Two ministers investigated in green hydrogen scheme

  • Lusa
  • 5 November 2020

According to the Attorney General's Office, Portugal's minister for the economy and the secretary of state for energy are being investigated for a green hydrogen project in Sines.

Portugal’s minister for the economy and the secretary of state for energy are being investigated for a green hydrogen project in Sines, in an investigation which, according to the Attorney General’s Office, has no established defendants.

According to the Sábado magazine, Minister Pedro Siza Viera and Secretary of State João Galamba are being investigated in a case that investigates evidence of influence peddling and corruption, among other economic and financial crimes.

Sábado also said that the two men are suspected of favouring the EDP/Galp/REN consortium in the millionaire green hydrogen project for Sines.

Pedro Siza Vieira and João Galamba are under close surveillance by the judicial and police authorities because they are part of the main target group in a criminal investigation that is looking for evidence of influence peddling and corruption, among other economic and financial crimes, the magazine said.

The publication wrote that the criminal investigation was probably the result of a complaint sent last year to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which essentially warned of suspicions of favouring business groups in what is surely the biggest public financial investment launched by the two governments led by António Costa: the Portuguese hydrogen plan.

Questioned by Lusa, the Public Prosector’s Office only confirmed the existence of an investigation underway in the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action, still without established defendants.

“Only one investigation is confirmed to be underway in DCIAP. It is under investigation, has no established defendants and is in legal secrecy”, the office said.

Lusa contacted both the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Environment who said that both are unaware of the existence of any investigation.

The same response was given to Lusa by Galp and EDP and we are still waiting for a response from REN.