Movement in the ports of Portugal fall 11.4% until July
21/09/2020
The main cause pointed out is the decrease in the coal load, following the suspension of the activity of Sines and Pego thermoelectric plants, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The movement in the ports of mainland Portugal fell 11.4% in the first seven months of this year, to 46.3 million tons compared to the same period of the previous year, revealed this friday the Authority of Mobility and Transport (AMT). Coal was the main cargo that contributed to this year-on-year decline, with a decrease of 85.7% until July, according to data released by AMT, as it presented the greatest decrease in the cargo markets, when registering a lower volume handled in around 1.88 million tons compared to the same period in 2019.
This situation is due to the lack of registration of any imports in the last three months, following the almost complete suspension of the activity of the Sines and Pego thermoelectric plants. The decisions to suspend the activity of these plants were not the result of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, justifies AMT, but of the compromised sustainability of the units, "heavily economically penalized" by the high emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) that they originate.
For more information go to: https://observador.pt/2020/09/18/movimento-nos-portos-de-portugal-continental-cai-114-ate-julho/