Water minister warns North and Centre face worst shortage this year

Portugal's environment minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, said national water reserves stand at 75%, up from 72% last year, but warned that the Lima, Vouga and Mondego basins in the North and Centre are worse off than in 2025, unlike the Algarve, Alentejo coast, Tagus and Guadiana. Speaking during a visit to flood-repair works on the Arunca river in Soure, she said lower water levels could force greater reliance on costlier gas-fired power to protect hydroelectric supply, and pledged close daily monitoring of all river basins amid forecasts of no rain before the end of September.