Portugal expands ADENE board powers ahead of merger into new energy agency

Portugal's government has granted the board of ADENE, the national energy agency, greater autonomy over spending, public procurement and budget matters, ahead of its planned integration into the newly created Agency for Geology and Energy (AGE). Under an order signed by the deputy state secretary for energy, Jean Paulo Gil Barroca, the board can now authorise expenses up to one million euros, manage public works and service contracts, and approve contract changes. This follows other recent transfers of powers within the ministry led by Maria da Graça Carvalho, including oversight of AGE and Portugal's strategic reserves body being handed to the state secretary for the environment.