2023-10-19

With around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Portugal stands as the European country with the highest average hours of sun exposure, and it has harnessed this advantage to emerge as one of the most progressive and enthusiastic nations in the promotion of renewable energy.

Portugal’s domestic primary energy production relies predominantly on renewable energy sources, thereby diminishing the country’s dependence on imported fossil, consequently reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. In 2022, 56,9% of the electricity generated was based on renewable sources, and this is expected to rise steeply in the coming decade. 

In its most recent version, released on 30 June 2023, the Portuguese National Plan for Energy and Climate for the period 2023-2030 (“PNEC 2030”), sets ambitious goals for a substantial rise in renewable energy generation, notably by committing to 85% of electricity production based on renewable sources by the end of 2030.

Regarding solar energy, it is expected by the end of 2030 an increase in solar capacity by 20.4 GW with (a) centralized solar production to reach 14.9 GW, and (b) decentralized solar production to reach 5.5. GW.  

These figures come close to quadrupling the current installed capacity with centralized solar production currently standing at 1.5 GW and decentralized production at 1.1 GW. These numbers appear even more impressive when compared at a scale of 1 to 5 to the Spanish PNIEC, which aims for a total solar energy production capacity of 76 GW.

The ground rules and current organization of the Portuguese National Electrical System are established in Decree-Law No. 15/2022, of 14 January (“Energy Law”), setting forth the legal framework applicable to the activities of generation, storage, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity.  

Overall, the road to market of a 1MW+ renewable energy generation must go through the following steps: (i) a grid capacity, (ii) environmental clearance, (iii) a production license, (iv) the approval of the Municipality for construction of the power plant, (v) securing connection to the public grid, (vi) execution of compensation protocol with the Municipality, and (vi) an operation license.

The guide provides a snapshot of the main steps to fully license a solar power plant with 1MW+ of installed capacity.  

GRID CAPACITITY TITLE 

The first step of the proceeding starts with the award of a reservation of injection capacity title in the RESP (“Capacity Title”). There are three ways that promoters may apply to obtain the Capacity Title: (i) General Access, (ii) Agreement with the grid operator, or (iii) Competitive Auction  

In the General Access, promoters request directly the Capacity Title to the Portuguese Directorate of Energy (“DGEG”), subject on DGEG’s publication of the available capacity in the grid, by providing the output capacity and the connection substation and voltage level.  

Within 5 days upon reception of the request, DGEG notifies the grid operator to inform on the available capacity within a period of 45 days and DGEG issues the Capacity Title when there is grid capacity on a first-come first-served basis. The request may only be refused on grounds that there is no available capacity in the specific substation or if the request exceeds the available capacity. 

The capacity available in this modality should have been published by DGEG by July 15, 2022, but, up to this date, it has not yet occurred, meaning that this method of obtaining the Capacity Title is currently not feasible.

The second method consists in an agreement between the relevant grid operator and the promoter to extend the grid capacity, on which the promoter finances the expansion of the grid capacity. 

The Secretary of State for Energy shall establish the capacity to be allocated in the RESP in this modality until January 15 of each year and the the promoters must apply until March 15th, of each year.

The grid operators release a ranked list of the projects (based on technical and safety criteria) by August 10th, of the same year and within 10 days after the release of the final list, the grid operators send to the promoters the budget for carrying out the grid reinforcement studies and the relevant payment deadline.

Until April 30 of the following year, the grid operators send to the promoters (i) the grid studies, (ii) the costs of reinforcement of the grid and (iii) availability deadline for completion of the works, and (iv) draft of the agreement to be entered with the promoter.  

The promoter has 30 days to accept the execution of the agreement. If accepted, the agreement must be executed by the end of November, or the request will expire. 

GRID CAPACICITY TITLE (II)

This modality is also currently unavailable due to a procedure launched by the Government in 2020 called “Termos de Referência”, which established a set of criteria for ordering prior submitted requests. DGEG published the final rankings of eligible projects for agreements with the TSO (78 projects) and DSO (53) on 2021, subsequently amending the list in July 2023 to give priority to projects that already conducted an environmental assessment.

The first tranche of projects with a total capacity of 3,6 GW is currently being handled by the TSO (3,2 GW) and the DSO (350 MW), and as far as is publicly known, the draft of the grid reinforcement agreements has been sent to the promoters.

The Government has already confirmed that the second tranche will enclose a capacity of 5 GW for projects on the TSO list (up to the 23rd position) and 1 GW for projects on the DSO list (covering all eligible projects).

A third tranche of projects with the remaining capacity is expected to start being handled by the TSO in 2024.

The grid connection reinforcements necessary for connecting the projects to the RESP are expected to be concluded in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

The allocation of injection capacity in the RESP may also be subject to a tendering procedure.

The modality of the procedure, the conditions and criteria for the allocation of reserve of injection capacity in the RESP, the remuneration scheme, the access, the duration and conditions, the deadlines for the commencement of operation and respective extensions are set in the tender documents. 

The decision to launch a tendering procedure results in the immediate cancelation of the pending applications for allocation of capacity for injection points to be included in the procedure, unless the promoter has already paid for the grid studies.

The application for obtaining a Capacity Title is subject to the delivery of deposit by the promoter, as follows:

  • In the General Access: EUR 10,000.00 per MVA of injection capacity;
  • In the agreement with the grid operator: EUR 15,000.00 per MVA of injection capacity;

ENVIROMENTAL ASSESSEMENT

Before applying for the production license, a project may have to obtain: (i) a favourable or conditionally favourable Environmental Impact Statement (Declaração de Impacte Ambiental – “DIA”), when the project is covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Avaliação de Impacte Ambiental - “AIA”), or (ii) a favourable or conditionally favourable Environmental Repercussions Assessment (Declaração de Incidências Ambientais – “DINCA”), when the project is to be established in areas of National Ecological Reserve, Natura 2000 areas or National Protected Areas Network.

DIA is a decision about the environmental feasibility of a project after an environmental impact study is conducted by the promoter. Any project (i) with a generating capacity ≥50 MW or the area occupied by panels and inverters is ≥100ha, (ii) or, in case it is installed in sensitive areas, has a generating capacity ≥20 MW or the area occupied by panels and inverters is ≥10ha is subject to AIA. Furthermore, the projects that do not reach those thresholds are subject to a case-by-case assessment of their potential impact on the environment, based on their location, size or nature, and may be subject to AIA by decision of the Portuguese Environmental Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente – “APA”) or of the DGEG

Promoters shall submit the environmental study to APA that will issue the DIA after a period of public consultation of 30 days. A non-favourable DIA decision terminates the relevant AIA procedure.

The project will be subject to DINCA in case it is located in a sensitive area being carried out by the Commission for the Coordination of Regional Development (Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional – “CCDR”) based on an environmental repercussions study submitted by the promoter. The DINCA is a simplified process, with the same purpose of AIA but with lighter requirements.

When a a project is not subject to AIA or AINCA, the only environmental requirement that shall be stressed out is a favourable opinion of the competent CCDR regarding the location of the project to be requested within the context of the Municipal Licensing, without prejudice to other entities that may be required to issue an opinion within such licensing procedure.

In case the lands where the project is to be installed fall within the National Ecological Reserve or are in areas crossed by water lines, the regulations regarding these two constraints should be taken into consideration.

PRODUCTION LICENSE

Renewable power plants with an installed capacity over 1MW must obtain a production license to start the development and operation of the project. The procedure starts with the promoter submitting a request to DGEG for the award of the production license within a 1-year period from the award of the Capacity Title, if the project is subject to AIA, otherwise this deadline is reduced to 6-months.

Upon request of the promoter, the deadlines established in the previous paragraph may be extended – one time - for a maximum of 1-year period upon issuance of a DGEG’s order. This second deadline can be extended for an indefinite period of time by order of the member of the Government responsible for the energy sector, upon request duly grounded by the promoter.

The application to obtain a production license must be accompanied with a set of documents, including: (i) Capacity Title, (ii) land right, (iii) project description and technical documentation in connection with the power plant facility, and (iv) favourable environmental opinions, if applicable.

DGEG shall start the consultation with external entities (particularly grid operator) regarding the installation of the project. Within a period of 30 days after the deadline of 20 days for the external entities to issue their opinion, DGEG shall decide upon the award of the production license.

The award of the production license is subject to the provision of a deposit to DGEG, in the amount of EUR 10,000 per MVA of injection capacity, with a maximum limit of  EUR 10,000,000.00 for a period of 30 months or until the entry into operation of the power plant (whichever occurs later), under penalty of expiry of the procedure.

The production license grants to the promoter, amongst other, the right to (i) install the power plant, (ii) sell the generated energy in organized markets or bilateral agreements, or to the last resort supplier in case the project benefits from a guaranteed remuneration scheme.

The production license may be assigned, but subject to the previous consent of DGEG, and may only be approved if the legal requirements for its award are met by the assignee and (i) if the share of electricity generation capacity held by the assignee in MIBEL on December 31 of the previous year does not exceed 40%, and (b) if the assignee display technical and financial economic capacity and experience to ensure completion of the project). 

CONNECTION TO THE GRID

The promoter bears the costs of the construction of the necessary infrastructures for connecting the renewable energy project to RESP, including the costs related to the occupation of the land which is necessary for the installation of said infrastructures. As a rule, renewable energy project with an installed capacity of more than 50 MVA are connected to the transmission grid, while plants with less than 50 MVA are connected to the distribution grid.

The grid connection offer is valid for a period of 180 days on which the promoter must accept them or request its modification in case it does not agree with the conditions submitted. Otherwise, such connection conditions expires, and new technical conditions must be requested. Once the promoter has accepted the grid connection offer, the promoter may start the procedure to construct the necessary connection infrastructures.

The costs and charges for the licensing process and construction of the connection facilities that will connect the relevant renewable energy project to the grid are the responsibility of the promoter and, as general rule, subject to technical validation of the project by relevant grid operator since after their construction the connection facilities shall be included into the concession of the grid operator.

Pursuant to the Electrical Installation License Regulation approved by Decree-Law 26852, of July 30, 1936, as a rule electrical facilities that connect renewable energy projects to the grid are subject to obtain an establishment license to be awarded by DGEG. The issuing of the establishment license is not mandatory before starting the construction of the power plant, although it is mandatory for the construction of the connection facilities that will connect the power plant to the public grid.

The request of the establishment license shall be performed by the grid operator after conduction a technical validation of the connection project submitted by the promoter. The promoter is also responsible for securing the necessary land rights and/or easements for the construction and operation of the connection facilities and for compensation due to affected landowners.

The promoter shall assign the connection facilities to the relevant grid operator after its construction as it shall remain under the concession of the latter. Upon the assignment, the promoter shall provide a guarantee to secure any construction or manufacturing defects corresponding to a maximum of 10% of the value of the relevant facilities, valid for a period of 2 years for the electrical works and 5 years for the civil works.

MUNICIPAL CONTROL 

According to legal framework concerning urban planning and building, construction enacted by Decree-law no. 555/99, of December 16, building a power plant is considered an “urbanistic operation”, and thus subject to:

  • A licensing procedure through the obtainment of a construction license and construction permit, being the permit a condition for the construction license to be effective and for the start of the works
  • The approval to a prior communication request which, if properly instructed and approved by the Municipality grants the right to immediately start the construction works.

Before construction, it is possible to ask the municipality, on a preliminary basis, information about the feasibility of certain urban planning operation, including legal and regulatory constraints. A favourable preliminary information binds the competent entities on the decision to make on a potential construction request for a period of 1 (one) year.

To obtain the construction license, the promoter submits online (on the municipalities’ website) a request addressed to the President of the Municipality. The President of the Municipality decides on the completeness of the request and starts a period of consulting external authorities.  Within 45 days from the date of receipt of the last of the opinions, or approvals by such authorities, the Municipality decides upon the issuing of the construction license. 

In any case, the construction works may only commence after the issue of the relevant construction permit, which must be applied by the promotor within one year of the date of the issuing of the construction license. Failing to comply with the said deadline will cause the expiration of the construction license. 

The prior communication request consists of a declaration that, provided it is properly instructed, allows the interested party to proceed immediately with certain urban planning operations after payment of the fees due, dispensing with the practice of any permissive acts.

Based on reasonable grounds, the construction deadline may be extended for a further period not exceeding half of its initial term. 

After completion of the construction works, the license of use for the project shall be obtained attesting that the works are completed and have been executed in accordance with the relevant construction procedure, as well as with applicable law and regulations.

Learn more by download the pdf below. 

2023-09-28

During the Paris Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Portugal made a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This commitment resulted in the approval of the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality 2050 ("RNC 2050") and of the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030 ("PNEC 2030"). "This plan will act as the primary tool for shaping national energy and climate policies in the coming decade, aiming to facilitate the shift towards a carbon-neutral future.

The PNEC 2030, recently subject to a revision and update proposal, addresses key aspects like lowering greenhouse gas emissions, integrating renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, ensuring energy security, considering the internal market, and fostering research, innovation, and competitiveness, the plan establishes a clear roadmap to achieve its objectives effectively.

To respond to this changing landscape, also the rules governing the National Electricity System ("SEN") have been adjusted, resulting in the approval of Decree-Law 15/2022, of 14 January ("Electricity System Law").

The main focus of new Electricity System Law has been to change the electricity production rules, with an emphasis on decentralized forms that rely on local production and self-consumption. This approach required a significant revision of the permitting procedures. Additionally, regulations were established to promote and regulate the upgrading and expansion of electricity production from oceanic sources or locations to reduce pressure on land-based resources.

The second cornerstone of the Electricity System Law has been to optimize the use of the public service electricity grid ("RESP") by introducing new rules into the development and investment plans of both transmission and distribution networks. This is essential to fully utilize the grid's potential and ensure its efficient operation and growth.

Finally, there has been a push to include competitive procedures for the licensing of several activities within the National Electricity System, to promote fairness and competition in these areas of the electricity sector. Rules such as those in the Electricity System Law establishing the obligation to use competitive procedures to select the Last Resort Supplier (“CUR”) and the Entity Responsible for Issuing Guarantees of Origin (“EEGO”).

Throughout this study, we will address these and other matters governed by Electricity System Law.

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1. SCOPE

The Electricity System Law applies to the activities of generation, storage, self-consumption, transmission, distribution, aggregation and commercialisation of electricity, as well as to the logistical operation of change of supplier and aggregator, the organisation of the respective markets, the activity of issuing guarantees of origin, the activity of managing guarantees of the National Electricity System, the procedures applicable to access to those activities and consumer protection.

The Electricity System Law excludes certain activities from its scope, namely: (i) the production of electricity through cogeneration, which is regulated by Decree-Law 23/2010, 25 March; (ii) the production of electricity from waves’ energy in the pilot areas, governed by Decree-Law 5/2008, 8 January, and Decree-Law 238/2008, 15 December; (iii) the organization, access, and activities related to electric mobility, regulated by Decree-Law 39/2010, of 26 April; and (iv) the production of electricity from nuclear energy.

1.2. MARKET PLAYERS

The Electricity System Law contemplates the following market participants:

  • Electricity producers, responsible for generating and supplying electricity to the national electricity grids;
  • Electricity stores, responsible for storing the energy produced by energy producers;
  • Global Manager of the National Electricity System, responsible for ensuring the harmonised operation of the SEN, the security and stability of the electricity supply in the short, medium and long term, as well as coordinating a stable and secure electricity supply with other European countries;
  • Integrated Distribution Network Manager ("Integrated ORD"), responsible for the technical management of the electricity distribution networks in high, medium and low voltage and for the technical management of the distribution networks in articulation with the Global Manager of the National Electricity System;
  • Transmission System Operator ("ORT"), responsible for the activity of electricity transmission, and for the construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission system;
  • Distribution System Operator ("ORD") of electricity in high and medium voltage, responsible for (i) the construction, operation, and maintenance of distribution networks, (ii) the management, operation, and maintenance of the electricity system, (iii) the expansion to new locations, (iv) the maintenance of the network and (v) connecting all consumers who request it;
  • Low-Voltage Distribution System Operators ("Low-Voltage ORD"), responsible, in addition to commercial duties, for reading meters, making meter-reading data available to suppliers and invoicing and collecting network access tariffs by suppliers;
  • Closed Distribution System Operators ("Closed ORD"), responsible for ensuring the capacity of the closed distribution system, i.e. for (i) interrupting the supply of electricity within the closed distribution systems, provided that this is duly justified and notified to ERSE, the Portuguese Energy Services Regulatory Authority or to DGEG, the Portuguese Department of Geology and Energy, (ii) knowing the consumption demand and energy produced by the closed distribution systems and (iii) entering into transparent and non-discriminatory agreements with consumers/users of the closed distribution system;
  • Electricity traders, responsible for making commercial offers, buying electricity from electricity producers in the market and selling it to customers;
  • Last Resort Suppliers ("CUR"), responsible for the supply of electricity, namely (i) in areas where there are no free market offers, (ii) to economically vulnerable consumers and (iii) to customers whose free-market supplier has been prevented from exercising its activity;
  • Electricity Market Operators, responsible for managing the market and related activities, namely managing organised markets for contracting electricity, ensuring that the markets are provided with adequate settlement services and establishing the criteria for determining the price indexes for each of the different types of contract;
  • Guarantees Manager, responsible for ensuring the management of the guarantees to be provided by suppliers or market agents;
  • Last Resort Aggregator, responsible for acquiring electricity from producers of electricity from renewable energy sources and which is remunerated at a price freely determined on organised markets and for acquiring electricity from self-consumers who inject surplus energy into the RESP in the event that no electricity aggregators are offered on the market or when aggregators are unable to exercise their activity;
  • Electricity Aggregators, responsible for buying electricity on the free market and selling it to customers who enter into an Electricity Supply Contract, subject to the terms and conditions agreed therein;
  • Self-consumers are those who produce their own electricity from renewable sources and consume it themselves, rather than selling it back to the grid. They may store or sell their electricity, although these activities may not constitute their main business or professional activity;
  • Citizens' Energy Communities (“CCE”), whether public or private, including, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises or local authorities, whose main objective must not be the achievement of financial profit;
  • Renewable Energy Communities ("CER"), whose main objective is to provide environmental, economic and social benefits to the members or localities where the community operates;
  • Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity, responsible for issuing Guarantees of Origin ("GO"), whose activity is subject to a license to be awarded under a public tender. Currently, the activity is entrusted to REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais, S.A. (“REN”) for electricity produced from renewable energy sources;
  • Collective Self-Consumption Management Entity ("EGAC"), responsible for managing and communicating with the self-consumption and renewable energy community platform and connecting self-consumers to the RESP. They are also responsible for the commercial relationship to be adopted for the surplus energy produced by self-consumers;
  • Logistics Operator for Switching Electricity, responsible for operating the change of supplier and aggregator in the electricity markets and providing personalized information to consumers, electricity producers, and self-consumers; and
  • Electricity Consumers, typically residential and commercial customers. They are also responsible for, among other things, (i) making the relevant monthly payments, (ii) contributing to the development of energy efficiency, (iii) keeping their equipment in a safe condition, under the terms of the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
2. PRODUCTION AND STORAGE
2.1. PERMITTING: PRIOR CONTROL

The electricity generation and storage activities are subject to a permitting procedure (or prior control, as referred to in the Electricity System Law).

 

 

The following activities will require aproduction and a operating license:

  • Production of electricity from non-renewable sources;
  • Production of electricity from renewable energy sources for injection into the RESP network or for self-consumption with an installed capacity exceeding 1 MW;
  • Autonomous storage of electricity with an installed capacity exceeding 1 MW;
  • Autonomous production or storage when subject to an environmental impact assessment ("AIA") or environmental incidence assessment ("AINCA"); and
  • Other production or storage activities non-exempted from prior control or not subject to prior registration or prior communication.

The permitting for other activities is less demanding. A prior registration and an operating certificate will be sufficient for:

  • Production of electricity from renewable energy sources for total injection into the RESP, with an installed capacity equal to or less than 1 MW;
  • Production of electricity for self-consumption with an installed capacity greater than 30 kW and less than or equal to 1 MW;
  • Autonomous storage of electricity with an installed capacity equal to or less than 1 MW;
Research and development projects, demonstration and testing, in a real environment, of innovative technologies, products, services, processes and models, within the scope of 
production, storage and self-consumption activities with an installed capacity greater than 30 kW.
  • Small dimension producers must only serve DGEG with a prior noticefor:
Production of electricity for self-consumption with installed power above 700 W and less or equal to 30 kW;
Research and development projects, demonstration and testing in real environment of innovative technologies, products, services, processes and models, within the scope of production, storage and self-consumption activities with installed power higher than 700 W and less than or equal to 30 kW;

The refitting of an electro-production centre, of primary solar or wind source, when it maintains or reduces the installed power initially established in the prior control procedure.

Finally, the following are exempt from prior control: (i) the production of electricity for self-consumption with an installed capacity of 700 W or less, as long as the injection of surplus into the RESP is not foreseen; (ii) research and development projects, demonstration and testing, in a real environment, of innovative technologies, products, services, processes and models, within the scope of production, storage and self-consumption activities with an installed capacity of 700 W or less, as long as the injection of surplus into the RESP is not foreseen.

2.1. CAPACITY RESERVATION TITLE

In most cases, the procedure to obtain a production license starts with the granting of a capacity reservation title ("TRC") issued by E-Redes - Distribuição de Eletricidade, S.A. (as the ORD), or by REN (as the ORT).

However, no TRC is required in the following cases:

  • For Self-Consumption Production Units ("UPAC"), except those where the injection of surplus into the RESP is expected to be greater than 1 MVA;
  • For hybridization;
  •  

  • For over-equipment and stand-alone over-equipment; and;
  • For the retrofitting.

When needed, promoters can obtain the TRC in one of three ways:

  • Under the general access regime, when there is capacity available in the RESP;
  • By agreement with the grid operator, when, in the absence of available capacity in the RESP, the developer assumes the costs of strengthening the RESP to allow the connection of its project;
  • By award in a competitive procedure, when the competent authority, subject to tender the capacity available in the RESP.

The award of the TRC is subject to the provision of a deposit to ensure that the promoter obtains the respective production license, with the following amounts:

  • € 10,000/MVA (up to a maximum of €10,000,000), in the general access mode;
  • € 15,000/MVA (up to a maximum of €10,000,000), in the form agreed with the network operator.

In competitive procedures, the amount of the deposit is defined by DGEG in the tender documents.

2.1.1. GENERAL ACCESS

When the general access regime applies, TRC applicants must file a request at the electronic platform created for the purpose by DGEG, after DGEG publishing the injection capacity available in the National Electricity Distribution Network (“RND”) and at the National Electricity Transmission Grid (“RNT”) at each substation of connection and voltage level.

The applicant submission must identify (i) the intended injection capacity, (ii) the chosen connection substation and voltage level, and (iii) the grid operator to which it wishes to connect.

The submission will automatically be rejected if (i) it does not refer to a substation in the DGEG list or it exceeds the total available capacity of the intended substation; (ii) the intended injection capacity has already been assigned or has been request earlier by another promoter; or (iii) after being notified by DGEG in 5 days from submission the promoter files to provide the deposit mentioned in the above section.

The TRC also requires prior compensation payment for the benefit of the SEN, in the amount of €1500/MVA.

Within 5 days from the deposit, DGEG forwards the request to the relevant network operator to decide within 45 days. The network operator follows the order of the requests received from DGEG, and may be refused the granting of new capacity in the following cases: (i) non-payment of the service fee; (ii) non-payment of the contribution to the SEN, (iii) there are no technical conditions to implement the requested grid connection, or it would affect the security and reliability of the RESP.

In case the grid operator notifies the applicant and DGEG of a favourable decision, DGEG will issue the TRC within 10 days.

2.2.2. AGREEMENT WITH THE NETWORK OPERATOR

If there is no available reception capacity in the RESP, promotor and the grid operator may enter into a grid reinforcement agreement, whereby the promoter assumes the financial costs arising from the construction or reinforcement of the grid necessary for the reception of energy from the production facility, storage or UPAC.

The negotiation of a grid reinforcement agreement (which will constitute itself the TRC) is conditional to an order from the Secretary of State for Energy until 5 January of each year, defining the maximum injection capacity at the RESP made available:

  • By production technology;
  • By RESP operator;
  • By production with total injection into the RESP and production for self-consumption.

Although reality has been different to this date, the Electricity System Law establishes that:

Requests for agreements must be submitted to DGEG by 15 March of each year;
DGEG must send them to the operator of the RESP within five days. The requests are accompanied by the provision of a guarantee;
By 10 August, the network operator, in coordination with the overall SEN manager or the integrated manager of the distribution networks, as appropriate, will proceed to prioritise the requests for agreement, proposing the approval of the provisional list with the requests accepted and excluded in accordance with the following criteria:
  • Technical criteria for the safety and reliability of the SEN, namely those relating to the use of infrastructures and optimising the operation and management of the SEN;
  • Criteria of territorial and environmental sustainability, namely those referring to the efficiency and rationalisation of infrastructure planning through the joint use of various interested parties, the obtaining of favourable prior information issued by the municipality, the existence of a favourable environmental impact statement, or the contractual title legitimising the use of the land necessary for the respective use;
  • Targets that Portugal is obliged to meet according to the applicable technology.
From drawing up the provisional list, the grid operator has 5 days, to provide it to DGEG, which must, within 5 days, notify the excluded promoters for a prior hearing of 10 days. 
  • DGEG, after consultation with the grid operator, shall draft the final list within 10 days of the end of the prior hearing period, and notify the interested parties of it in the following 5 days.
  • The grid operator must, in 10 days from the publication of the final list, provide the selected promoter with a budget for the execution of the network studies and the respective payment deadline.
  • By 30 April of the following year, the grid operator shall send the following information to the selected promoters who paid for the studies: (i) the network studies, (ii) the cost of reinforcements or construction of the new infrastructure, including the criteria for allocation between interested parties, when applicable, (iii) the deadline for making the new infrastructure available, (iv) a proposal for agreement.
  • The promoters have then a period of 30 days to accept or refuse the agreement proposed by the grid operator. In case of acceptance, the agreement must be executed until 30 November.

The agreement with the network operator must include:

  • The rights, obligations and conditions to be observed, to add power injection capacity in the RESP;
  • The injection capacity at the RESP assigned to the promoter;
  • The charges, payment plan and plan for submission and release of guarantees.

With the signing of the agreement, the promoter must pay an amount corresponding to 5% of the budget presented by the grid operator. The remaining budget amount will be secured by a guarantee, which shall be subsequently released once the agreed payment plan is fulfilled.

2.2.3. COMPETITIVE PROCEDURE

The Secretary of State for Energy may launch competitive procedures for the allocation of a TRC for electricity production from renewable energy sources.

The procedure documents should define:

  • The scope of the procedure and the launching method adopted;
  • The conditions and criteria for the allocation of the TRC;
  • The requirements for the qualification of interested parties;
  • The electricity production remuneration models admitted and the respective access, duration and maintenance conditions;
  • The deadlines for entry into operation; and
  • The amount of the required deposit.

When a decision is taken to start a competitive procedure, all pending TRC requests for the same grid connection points that will be included in the procedure are immediately voided. And the respective deposit will be returned within 10 days from the procedure's opening date. However, the competitive procedure cannot include grid connection where there is an agreement between the interested party and the grid operator or where the applicant has already paid for the grid reinforcement studies.

2.2.4. TRANSFER OF THE TRC

Holders of a TRC can, subject to the consent of DGEG, transfer it before the respective production license is issued. A TRC transfer is deemed to occur whenever there is:

  • A transfer of the project itself,
  • When a change of control over the TRC holder occurs, being in any case subject to the consent of the DGEG.

The change of ownership of a TRC also depends on the promote providing a reinforcement of the guarantee in half of its initial value, except when:

  • The TRC is transferred to a SPV - a vehicle company whose corporate purpose includes the exercise of the activities of construction and operation of an electricity generation plant, storage facility or UPAC, as the case may be, and which has as its sole shareholders the holders of the TRC;
  • The shares are encumbered in favour of financing entities, changes in the direct ownership of the holder resulting from the execution of pledges of shares under agreements entered with the same financing entities, or changes in direct ownership under group restructuring operations that do not imply a change in the beneficial owner.

2.3. PRODUCTION LICENSE

The installation of 1MW or plus electrical generation plants can only begin after a production license has been obtained.

The procedure starts with the presentation of an application to DGEG for the granting of a production license with a set of documents specified in Annex I of Electricity System Law, including (a) a copy of the TRC; (b) proof of the right to use the land where the installation will be installed, (c) a description of the project and technical documentation relating to it, and (d) favourable environmental opinions, if applicable.

DGEG has 15 working days to decide on the reception of the application and may request additional information only once. The production license holder must provide the requested information within 30 working days.

The application for a production license must be filed within a maximum period of 1 year from the award of the TRC if the project is subject to AIA. Otherwise, this deadline is reduced to 6 months.

These deadlines may be extended at the request of the applicant:

  • To DGEG, only on time and for a maximum period of 1 year, if de delay arises of reasons not attributable to the applicant; or
  • To the Government, for an indefinite period, where in exceptional and duly justified circumstances the time limit proved to be insufficient.

The holder of the production license is entitled to:

  • Install the electricity generation plant, the UPAC or the storage facility according to the terms of the production license;
  • Sell electricity in organised markets or through bilateral contracts and buying electricity up to the limit of the injection capacity defined in the production license;
  • Establish and operate direct lines to supply electricity to end customers when this cannot be done through the RESP or when it is technically and economically more advantageous for the SEN, in accordance with DGEG’ assessment;
  • Deliver the electricity produced to CUR, against payment of the guaranteed remuneration if the plant benefits of a FiT;
  • To deliver the electricity produced, to an aggregator or supplier, against payment of remuneration at a price freely determined between the parties; and
  • Selling storage capacity to third parties.

On the other hand, the duties of the holder of the production license are, namely:

  • Comply with the provisions of the production license;
  • Obtain licenses, authorisations or opinions required for the installation and operation of the plant, UPAC or storage facility;
  • Notify DGEG and the respective grid operator of the conclusion of the electrical installation;
  • Send DGEG and ERSE data regarding the operation and exploitation of the electricity installation: (i) by the 15th of each month, the data referring to the previous month, (ii) by the end of March of each year, the annual data referring to the previous calendar year;
  • Establishing and keeping insurance up to date that guarantees the civil liability of the holder of the production license arising from the exercise of the activity;
  • Informe DGEG in advance, who will inform the grid operator, of any changes to the electrical installation that are not subject to obtaining a new production license.

2.3.1. EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME

Before starting operation of the power plant, UPAC or storage facility, it is possible to carry out previous tests and trials. These are subject to request by the holder of the production license and authorisation from DGEG and they may relate to units capable of operating autonomously (in the case of phased construction), or to the entire facility.

The application for authorisation to carry out tests and trials must be addressed to DGEG and accompanied by (i) the test programme to be carried out and its duration, signed by the technician or experts responsible for its execution, (b) the opinion of the grid operator to which the generating plant is connected, (c) a sworn statement by the holder of the production license that the installation complies with the terms of the respective license, the applicable regulations and the technical and safety conditions, and (d) a favourable opinion from the overall manager of the SEN.

DGEG will issue a decision on the authorisation request within 20 days from receipt of the application. It is considered tacitly granted if it is not expressly decided upon within that period and provided that the grid operator has given a favourable opinion on the existence of grid connection conditions.

The period for carrying out tests and trials and trial operation may not exceed:

  • 3 months, except in exceptional circumstances recognised by DGEG; or
  • 12 months, in the case of contractors of a competitive procedure for the award and TRC.

After the experimental operation period has elapsed, the continued operation of the electrical installation depends on the issuance of an operation license.

The energy injected into the RESP in the test and trial or experimental operation phase is remunerated at market price, through the signing of a contract with a market agent.

2.3.2. TRANSFER OF THE PRODUCTION LICENSE

The production license can be transferred by its holder, subject to the same regime applicable to the transfer of the TRC before the issue of the operating license, which includes an authorisation from DGEG.

The transfer request to DGEG must be accompanied by all the elements relating to the identification, technical and financial standing of the transferor, as well as by a declaration of acceptance of the transfer and of all the license conditions.

DGEG decides within 15 days and may request additional elements. The elements must be provided within a maximum period of 30 days, during which time the decision period will be suspended.

2.3.3. TERMINATION OF THE PRODUCTION LICENSE

The effects of the production license cease by expiry or revocation, implying the automatic extinction of the operating license and expiry of the TRC.

The production license expires in the following situations:

  • With the expiry of the reserve capacity title for injection into the RESP;
  • When the guarantee is not provided;
  • With the issuing of a new production license replacing it;
  • By renunciation by the holder, exercised by means of a written statement addressed to DGEG;
  • In the event of dissolution, cessation of activity or approval of the liquidation in insolvency and company recovery proceeding of the company that holds the license; and
  • With the extinction of the title of use of water resources or of the title of use of the maritime space on which it depends, if applicable.

The production license may be revoked when its holder:

  • Fails to comply with the duties relating to the exercise of the activity;
  • Fails to comply with the determinations imposed by the technical supervision;
  • Does not obtain or maintain updated the civil liability insurance;
  • Fails to send to DGEG and ERSE, on two consecutive occasions, informative data on the operation and exploitation of the electricity installation;
  • Abandons the installations allocated to electricity production or interrupts the licensed activity, for a continuous or interspersed period of six months or more, within a period of one year, for reasons not based on technical reasons or on capacity mechanism or system services;
  • Undertakes substantial changes to the electrical installation without having obtained a permit.

2.4. OPERATING LICENSE

Except for the possibility of operation on an experimental basis, the electrical projects subject to production license can only start operating after obtaining the operation license.

The application for the issuance of the operation license is addressed to DGEG and must be accompanied by the following documents: (i) a declaration of conformity of execution, signed by the person responsible for the execution and by the installing entity, certifying that the installation is concluded and ready to operate in accordance with the conditions of the production license, (ii) an opinion from the grid operator that the conditions for connection and injection of energy into the grid have been met, (iii) a favourable opinion from the overall manager of the SEN, (iv) proof of conclusion of the civil liability insurance, and (v) a document proving the availability of the land.

Once the application for an operation license is submitted, DGEG must inspect the electrical installations within 30 days of receipt of the license application. If the application is duly completed, DGEG will make its decision within 10 days of receipt of the inspection report. The request for the issue of the operating license can only be rejected on the grounds of non-compliance of the installations with the legal and regulatory conditions or with the conditions stipulated in the production license.

Once granted, the operation license establishes the conditions under which the electrical installation is to operate and certifies that the project was built in accordance with the requirements and specifications set out in the production license and applicable regulations, as well as that it is fit to supply power to the grid, granting the project the right to start operating.

The operation license must be issued within a maximum period of one year from the date of issue of the production license, except in the following cases:

  • TRC allocation in agreement with the operator of the RESP, in which case the operating license may be issued within a maximum period of 90 days after the start-up date of the RESP infrastructures to be built or reinforced;
  • Operationalisation of the connection conditions by the operator of the RESP within a period longer than that defined for the issue of the operating license, in which case it may be issued within a maximum period of 90 days after the availability of that infrastructure.

In any case, the periods for issuance of the operation license may be extended under the same terms applicable to the issuance of the production license referred to in paragraph 2.3 above.

Decree-Law 30-A/2022 of 18 April, which established exceptional measures to simplify the procedures for producing energy from renewable energy sources, exempted the issuance of an operation license for electricity generating centres from renewable energy sources, for storage facilities and for production units for self-consumption whenever the grid operator confirms the existence of conditions for connection to the RESP. The operating license is now requested within 3 years after notification by the grid operator, and the DGEG may also waive the need for a previous inspection.

The rules set out in Decree-Law 30-A/2022 are temporary in nature and will remain in force until 19 April 2024.

2.5. PRIOR REGISTRATION AND OPERATING CERTIFICATE

The previous registration for project 1 MW or below capacity is made through an electronic platform as follows.

After the applicant has registered on the platform, the ORD has 20 days to issue an opinion on the existence of technical conditions for connection to the grid and compliance with applicable regulations, respecting the sequential order of requests.

DGEG may refuse prior registration within 30 days of the issuing of a statement by the ORD or after the end of the respective period in which it was issued, in the event of non-compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements for exercising the activity.

After the deadline for refusal, the prior registration is issued (with or without conditions) and the applicant can proceed with the installation.

After installation, the holder of the previous register requests the inspection entity for private service electrical installations to carry out an inspection to check the compliance of the installation with legal and regulatory standards. If the inspection report is not refused within 10 days after submission, the operation certificate is considered awarded and the connection of the installation to the RESP is authorised.

The request for the issuing of the operation certificate must be made within a maximum period of 9 months after the issue of the previous register, except in cases where there is a delay in the network operator's provision of the connection conditions to the RESP. In this case, DGEG will suspend the deadline for the corresponding period. In any case, the time limit can be extended by half.

The previous register can be freely transferred by its titleholder. However, changing ownership before issuing the operating certificate follows the same regime as that established for the transfer of the production license (see 2.3.2 above) and the TRC (see 2.2 above). The prior registration can also cease its effects due to expiration or revocation.

The prior registration expires when:

  • Fees due are not paid;
  • No request for an operating certificate is presented within nine months after the issue of the prior registration (except in cases where there is a delay in the RESP operator making the connection conditions available to the RESP); and
  • The holder renounces the registration.

In turn, prior registration is revoked by DGEG when the activity is carried out in breach of legal and regulatory norms and the holder has not - within the time limit set - adopted the DGEG's recommendations for restoring legality.

2.6. PRIOR NOTICE

The prior notice of small (up to 700W) self-consumption projects is carried out through an electronic platform. After registration of the applicant by filling in a form, the respective proof of submission is automatically issued.

After obtaining the proof, the interested party may proceed immediately with the installation of the equipment.

If the injection of electricity into the RESP is planned, the DGEG requests the ORD to indicate the conditions for connection to the RESP within 30 days of obtaining proof.

The effects of the prior notice cease under the same terms applicable to prior registration.

2.7. OVER-EQUIPMENT AND RE-EQUIPMENT

Over-equipment and re-equipment are allowed with the aim of: (i) maximizing the generation capacity allocated to a reception point at the RESP and (ii) reducing the pressure on the territory resulting from the installation of new power generation plants. These are defined in Electricity System Law as:

  • Over-equipment: the alteration of the generating plant through the installation of more generating equipment or inverters with an increase in installed capacity up to a limit of 20% of the connection power assigned to the generating plant in the respective prior control title;
  • Retrofitting: the total or partial substitution of equipment, without changing the implantation polygon of the power plant, with a maximum limit of 20% of the connection power at the RESP.

Both overfitting and retrofitting constitute a non-substantial amendment to the pre-existing prior control title. Both may be requested after the issue of the production license or prior registration and before or after the issue of the operating license or operating certificate. Non-substantial alterations depend on prior authorization from DGEG and are annotated to the production license or prior registration.

The request for alteration of the prior control title is submitted to DGEG with the same information that accompanied the application for the granting of the production license or prior registration. Within 5 days of submitting these elements, DGEG may request additional information to be provided within a maximum period of 30 days. Within the same period, DGEG may also consult the entities that have made statements in the prior control process on the issues that are the object of the alteration.

DGEG issues its decision within 15 days from the deadline for responses from the entities consulted.

Except for hydroelectric plants with a connection power of more than 10 MVA, all renewable energy power plants can be over-equipped or retrofitted.

The energy injected into the RESP relative to over-equipment and/or re-equipment is remunerated at market price or through bilateral contracts. However, in relation to retrofitting, if the power plant benefits from a guaranteed remuneration scheme, this scheme is also applicable to the electricity injected into the RESP resulting from the retrofitting.

The over-equipment may be legally separated from the pre-existing generating plant, being registered, in the pre-existing prior control title, in the name of a legal entity distinct from the holder of the generating plant to be over-equipped, but compulsorily controlled by the holder of the generating plant.

To this end, the holder of the plant must submit to DGEG a contract signed with the holder of the new plant resulting from over-equipment defining, namely, (i) production of electricity, (ii) injection of electricity into the RESP, (iii) metering and billing, (iv) ownership of facilities and equipment, and (v) sharing of information.

The holder of the generating plant and the holder of the autonomous over-equipment are jointly liable to the licensing and supervisory entities, grid operators or the overall SEN manager for the fulfilment of legal and regulatory duties and obligations arising from the prior control and inherent to the installation and operation of the over-equipment and its connection to the grid..

The over-equipment installation is not susceptible to autonomous transmission in relation to the pre-existing power plant, even in cases of legally separated over-equipment, except when the transmission is part of group restructuring operations that do not result in a change of the beneficial owner registered in the RCBE.

2.8. HYBRIDS AND HYBRIDIZATION

Hybrid power plants and hybridization regimes aim at mitigating the scarcity of grid capacity and maximizing the reception of energy at the RESP, and are defined in Electricity System Law as follows:

  • Hybrid plants: generating plants or UPAC that, in the prior control procedure, present simultaneously more than one production unit using several primary sources of renewable energy;
  • Hybridization: the addition to an existing plant of new generation units using different primary renewable energy sources, without changing the injection capacity of the pre-existing generating plant. Hybridization can be carried out at any power plant.

The Electricity System Law allows hybrid production systems to be set up ab initio or, subsequently, through a greatly simplified prior control procedure to amend the production license.

The installation of a hybrid power plant and the hybridization of an existing power plant are subject to the prior control regime applicable to the exercise of the activity of electricity generation referred to in chapter 2.1. However, hybridization, regardless of the installed capacity, is exempt from obtaining TRC, since there is no increase in the injection capacity of the existing electricity generating plant.

For hybridization, a new prior control title will be issued - the subsequent prior control title - which expressly identifies the injection capacity in the RESP allocated to the new production unit. This implies the modification in conformity of the pre-existing TRC, to be promoted by DGEG or, in cases of modality of agreement with the grid operator, by the respective operator. In the prior control procedure, DGEG informs the applicant of the instructional elements already delivered and which remain valid.

As in the case of over-equipment, the new plant resulting from hybridization may be legally separated from the generating plant to be hybridized. However, in hybridization, it is not necessary to have a domain relationship with the owner of the pre-existing generating plant.

Learn more by download the pdf below. 

2023-06-22

A whistleblower program, if well-designed, is an adequate tool to build a culture of good communication and corporate social responsibility, where reporting persons are considered to contribute to self-correction and excellence within the organisation significantly.

The most significant risks typically occur in a work-related environment, such as theft or fraud, bribery/corruption, environmental misconducts, health and safety concerns, privacy issues, employer’s policy breaches.

Employees are the ones to which it is easier to detect a breach. Still, they do not often report violations, mainly because they either believe that the breach cannot be effectively addressed or that there is a risk of retaliation.

As part of compliance programmes, reporting channels can be used as a risk management tool, giving organisations the chance to become aware of concerns/misconducts at earlier stages and prevent or mitigate financial and reputational risks.

Reporting channels allow building a confident and secure environment. Employees are encouraged to openly speak about their concerns with the management as their first preferred course of action. Confidentiality, response times, and follow-up must be ensured. Otherwise, a reporting channel will quickly fail its credibility and trust before its primary recipients – the employees.
This paper explains the main steps organisations need to take to comply with the Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (the ‘EU Whistleblowing Directive’ or the ‘Directive’) and Law 93/2021 of 20 December 2021, which implemented the Directive in Portugal.

The time to act is now for those who have not yet taken steps to ensure that a whistleblowing programme with effective report channels is in place. The Portuguese Whistleblowing Law requires ongoing internal reporting channels by 18 June 2022.

The EU Whistleblowing Directive

Currently, whistle-blower protection provided in the EU is fragmented across its Member States. This situation is due to different reasons, including cultural ones.

The purpose of the EU Whistleblowing Directive is to create a harmonised legal framework, which will introduce substantial changes in approach to whistleblowing in the many Member States, including Portugal, and with effects for employers with EU cross border operations.

The Directive affects all legal entities in the private and public sector with 50 or more employees and, regardless of the number of employees, entities within the scope of some EU acts, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules. These organisations must provide means for employees to report misconducts that occurred in a work-related environment, including, but not limited to, the following: public procurement; prevention of money laundering; environment; personal privacy data.

The definition of “employees” has a broad range, comprising those with the employee’s status and freelance employees, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, shareholders, management roles, former and prospective employees.

The deadlines to incorporate the minimum standards of the Directive into local laws are as follows:

  • Businesses and government organisations with or more than 250 employees, entities falling into the scope of EU some acts (such as AML rules), and municipalities serving 10,000 inhabitants must implement an internal reporting system by 17 December 2021; and
  • Businesses and government organisations with 50 to 249 employees must have their internal reporting system by 17 December 2023.

Organisations must have systems in place to monitor and follow up on reports. They must be prepared to understand the steps to protect whistle-blowers following their reports, safeguard their identity, and ensure that employees will not suffer any retaliation.

The Directive contains the minimum standards for accepting, processing, and reporting information received from whistle-blowers. The EU Member States may impose additional requirements on top of these, so it is recommended to keep track and review the local whistleblowing legislation.

 Reporting channels

In Portugal, the Whistleblowing Directive was implemented by Law 93/2021, of 20 December 2021.

The Portuguese Whistleblowing Law imposes that local businesses and government organisations with or more than 50 employees, “obliged entities” falling into the scope of the Portuguese Anti-Money Laundering Law (Law 83/2017, of 18 August 2017), and municipalities serving 10,000 inhabitants implement an internal reporting system by 18 June 2022.

Employees must first use internal reporting channels before using external channels. The procedures for internal reporting channels shall include:

  • Setting-up of channels for receiving the reports which need to be designed, established, and to operate in a secure manner that guarantees that the confidentiality of the identity of the reporting person and any third party mentioned in the report is protested, and prevent access thereto by non-authorized staff members;
  • Acknowledgment of receipt of the report within seven days of that receipt;
  • An impartial person or department competent for following-up on the reports and which will maintain communication with the reporting person and, where necessary, ask for further information from and provide feedback to the reporting person;
  • Provision of feedback within a reasonable timeframe, not exceeding three months from the acknowledgement of receipt or, if no acknowledgement was sent to the reporting person, three months from the end of the seven days after the report was made; and
  • Provision of clear and easily accessible information regarding the procedures for reporting externally to competent authorities.

Employees must use external channels in case internal channels cannot reasonably be expected to function correctly. This may occur if employees have valid reasons to believe that:

  • They will suffer retaliation in connection with the reporting, including as a result of a breach of confidentiality, or
  • Competent authorities will be better placed to address the breach effectively.

Internal reporting channels

Main features

Employees can address complaints in writing and/or verbally. Complaints can be submitted anonymously.

Internal reporting channels can be operated in-house to receive and follow-up on complaints by persons or services selected for that purpose, or externally, to receive complaints only.

Independence, impartiality, confidentiality, data protection, secrecy, and absence of conflict of interest of the person(s) or entity chosen for this purpose must be safeguarded.

That person or entity will have to act diligently to follow up on the report.

Appropriate actions must be taken to verify the assertions made in the report and, where necessary, to cease the reported violation by opening an internal investigation or informing the competent authority to investigate the breach.

 Deadlines for the follow-up of reports

  • Seven days: acknowledge receipt of the report to the reporting person should occur within seven days of that receipt. Within the same deadline, the reporting person must be informed, in a clear and easily accessible way, on relevant procedures and external reporting procedures to relevant competent authorities.
  • Three months: follow-up and feedback should take place within a reasonable timeframe, given the need to promptly address the issue that is the subject of the report and the need to avoid unnecessary public disclosures. This timeframe should not exceed three months but could be extended to six months, if necessary, due to the specific circumstances of the case, in particular the nature and complexity of the subject of the report, which may require a lengthy investigation.

The reporting person can, at any time, request the organisation to disclose the outcome of the review carried out following the report and within 15 days as of its conclusion by the organisation.

External reporting channels

Main features

Competent authorities will establish external reporting channels, independent and distinct from other communication channels, to receive and pursue reports. They will also publish information on the reporting procedures in a separate, easily identifiable, and accessible section on their websites.

When there is no competent authority to address the report or in cases where the target of the report is the competent authority itself, the report must be addressed to the Portuguese Anti-Corruption Authority and, if this authority is the target, to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Reports will be dismissed when the competent authority, by a reasoned decision (to be notified to the reporting person), considers that:

  • The reported offense is of minor seriousness, insignificant or manifestly irrelevant;
  • The complaint is repeated and contains no new elements of fact or law that justify a different follow-up to the first complaint; or
  • The complaint is anonymous and there is no evidence of an infringement.

Deadlines for the follow-up of reports

  • Seven days: acknowledge receipt of the report to the reporting person should take place within seven days of that receipt unless the reporting person explicitly requested otherwise, or the competent authority reasonably believes that acknowledging receipt would jeopardise the protection of the reporting person's identity;
  • Three months: for the organization to notify the whistleblower of the measures envisaged or adopted to follow up the complaint with the relevant grounds.

The reporting person can, at any time, request the competent authority to disclose the outcome of the review carried out following the report and within 15 days as of its conclusion by the competent authority.

Competent authorities will review the procedures for receiving and handling reports every three years, considering their experience and that of other competent authorities.

Safeguards

In addition to implementing effective, confidential and secure reporting channels, it is crucial ensuring that reporting persons are protected effectively against retaliation.

Retaliation means any direct or indirect act or omission which occurs in a work-related context, is prompted by internal or external reporting or by public disclosure, and which causes or may cause unjustified detriment to the reporting person.

For instance, employees need specific legal protection to acquire the information they report through their work-related activities. Therefore, employees risk work-related retaliation for breaching the duty of confidentiality or loyalty. Employees may also find themselves in a position of economic vulnerability in the context of their work-related activities.

Protection should be provided against retaliatory measures taken not only directly vis-à-vis employees themselves but also those that can be taken indirectly, including vis-à-vis facilitators, colleagues or relatives of the reporting person who are also in a work-related connection with the reporting person's employer or customer or recipient of services.

Once employees make their report, they should be protected by:

  • Steps are being taken to prevent retaliation, harassment and threats against them by issuing fines to anyone looking to hinder the process in such a manner;
  • Suspension, lay-off, dismissal or equivalent measures;
  • The burden of proof being reversed so that the business or municipality has to provide evidence that it was not trying to retaliate against a whistleblower;
  • Being offered free advice and information on procedures;
  • Understanding that, by exposing wrongdoing, they did not contravene contracts, non-disclosure agreements or similar;
  • Being offered financial assistance;
  • Being offered psychological support.

 The role of the management

Many organisations make their internal reporting system accessible to their employees but do not actively encourage its use. Only a few seek to instil a sense of obligation by sending the message that persons who perceive misconduct but do not raise the alarm are complicit in their apathy or indifference.

Whistleblowing programmes may fail if the high-level management cannot provide proper assurance that those who report issues will not be ignored, silenced, or punished for the bad news.

In turn, middle-level management must balance supporting the programme and preventing access due to much control. Too much management control over the process can hinder its use.

Doubts about management commitment can still arise if the reporting channel is exclusively handled in-house and without the involvement of an independent and impartial third party.

Ensuring the protection and safety of whistleblowers is necessary for the effectiveness of a whistleblowing programme.

A whistleblowing programme must guarantee confidentiality and allow discreet or anonymous reports. If an individual feels seriously threatened or in a situation where a company has only a few employees, guarantees of confidentiality may not be sufficient to encourage whistleblowing, in which case it would be necessary to offer anonymity.

Any reports must be stored confidentially and securely. Each organisation needs to take steps to protect whistleblowers' identities and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Having a central tracking system to enter, monitor, and update case details will help ensure this while at the same time simplifying the investigation procedure.

Providing feedback to the reporting person as part of the investigation process will also show that the issue is assessed and taken seriously by the organisation.

The programme still needs to be informed to all employee levels. The announcement must have a clear and strong message and be repeated from time to time. This communication that the programme enjoys support at the highest-level management and that the use is an act of loyalty, not infidelity, is crucial and stresses the message that reporting is the right thing to do.

If you wish to know more, please download the pdf below. 

2023-05-31

In 2022, the Portuguese road infrastructure manager, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) announced plans to build a new high-speed rail line between Lisbon and Porto. 

The North Line (Linha do Norte) currently connects Portugal’s two main cities (Lisbon and Oporto) and is Portugal's primary railway, spanning 336 km. However, it has been struggling with capacity and competitiveness issues. 

Despite significant investment in its modernisation over the past 30 years, the travel time between Porto and Lisbon remains at 2 hours and 49 minutes. 

Consequently, constructing an entirely new line with a different path is deemed the most viable solution. This is because the North Line is crucial to the country's railway infrastructure, with almost 730 trains per day or 44% of all trains operating on it - including over 90% of freight trains and half of all passenger trains.

THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINE PROJECT 

As part of the broader stimulus programme, the 2030 Investment National Plan, Portugal plans to build a high-speed rail line connecting Portugal's two largest metropolitan areas. 

This will free up space on the North Line for regional and suburban passenger and freight traffic, while boosting transportation and connectivity between the two cities. 

The establishment of a high-speed line linking the Metropolitan Areas of Porto and Lisbon will greatly enhance the capacity and quality of the national railway network, promoting territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability in the transportation sector. 

Additionally, the project aims to link the high-speed rail line to neighbouring Spain and the European high-speed network. 

The project is set to be implemented alongside the construction of the high-speed rail line between Porto and Vigo, with the first phase of the project (Braga-Valença) expected to be completed by 2030.

GENERAL FEATURES AND GOALS

The project for the high-speed rail line between Lisbon and Porto will be implemented in phases with double-tracking, utilizing the Iberian gauge (1668 mm). 

The anticipated benefits of this new rail line include improved transportation infrastructure and reduced travel time between both cities from over 3 hours to only 1 hour and 15 minutes (without stops). 

The new high-speed railway will be connected to the traditional railway network, with existing stations being adapted to accommodate high-speed trains (such as Aveiro, Coimbra, and Leiria) and a new railway station being built in Vila Nova de Gaia. 

The new line will have a minimum speed of 160 Km/H, nearly five times faster, and a maximum of 300 Km/H speed. 

This project is part of the government's efforts to comply with the goals and objectives of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy climate/sustainability actions.

CONTRACT MODEL 

To minimize costs and make the most of available resources while also managing risk, IP proposes implementing the high-speed rail line project through three concession agreements. 

The concession agreements will cover the design, construction, maintenance, and financing of the project using the DBFM model. IP will oversee the operation of the line.

The project team, in collaboration with the Technical Unit for Project Support, will assess whether the concession model is the best option compared to public sector alternatives and prepare all necessary contracting procedures. The proposed contracting model will adhere to international best practices.

IP plans to contract specific works separately, such as signalling and telecommunications, resulting in increased risk-sharing with the private sector compared to other railway projects.

PROJECT PHASES AND TIMELINE 

The new high-speed rail line between Porto and Lisbon will have a length of approximately 290 km.

The project is scheduled to be executed in three phases starting in Porto, adjusted according to the country’s financial capabilities and the availability of EU funding, as follows:

  • Phase 1between Porto (Campanhã Station) and Soure, with an investment of almost 3,000 million euros and expected completion in 2028; 

  • Phase 2between Soure and Carregado, with an estimated investment of 1,900 million euros and expected completion in 2030; and 

  • Phase 3between Carregado and Lisbon (Oriente Station), which will likely be constructed later. 

The first tender regarding the construction of the first section of the Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line is expected to be launched at the end of 2023, so that works can begin in 2024 and be completed by the end of 2028.

INVESTMENT AND EU FUNDS 

The estimated cost of this project is approximately €4,900 million until 2030. 

Phase 1 will be divided into two sub-sections: 

  • The Porto-Aveiro (Oiã) sub-section, with an investment of €1,650 million (which will include a new bridge over the Douro River connecting the cities of Porto and Gaia); and 

  • The Aveiro-Soure sub-section, with an investment of €1,300 million. 

It is expected that €1,000 million from the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility will be allocated to Phase 1 - €500 million for each sub-section - with the potential to secure additional funding through competitive means.

EU funds will only finance one-third of the construction works on the new high-speed rail line between Porto and Lisbon. The remaining amount will come from the State Budget.

However, EU funds may be at risk if the European Commission does not accept financing new railways built with Iberian gauge. 

Learn more by download the pdf below. 

2023-05-29

Portugal is a country located in the southwestern Europe, enjoying a prime location, good climate and an immense natural beauty from sandy beaches and cliffs along the Atlantic Coast to mountains in the country’s inland.

With a lower cost of living than most of Western Europe and a good quality of life, Portugal proves to be well suited for families, modern investors, businesspeople and retirees.

Portugal’s ranked 4th in the 2022 Insider survey, as a country where expats can enjoy quality of life in a sunny and mild weather country, packed with history and culture.

Security levels in Portugal are high when compared with most countries in the World, including Western European countries.

Portugal ranked 5th most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index. 

The Global Peace Index, created by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), measures “global peace” using three broad themes: the level of safety and security in society, the extent of domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarization.

POLITICAL CONTEXT

RECENT HISTORY

In the nineteen seventies, Portugal underwent a series of major political, social and economic changes. On 25 April 1974, a military coup overthrew the fascist dictatorship and colonial regime. Today, is a republic based on a parliamentary democracy with a semi-presidential regime.

EXECUTIVE POWER

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds the executive power. The current Prime Minister is António Costa.

António Costa, the Socialist Party (PS) leader, has been the prime minister since November 2015. 

Far-right populism, surging across Europe, is largely absent in Portugal. The government has the support of the two far-left parties in the Parliament.

The current President of the Republic is Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, elected in January 2021.

LEGISLATIVE POWER

Portuguese legislative power is concentrated in a parliament called the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República). 

The Parliament has 230 seats. Its members are elected by universal vote for a 4-year term.

The executive branch of government is dependent on the support of parliament often expressed by a vote of confidence. 

The Portuguese parliament is comprised of the following parties:

  • The left-wing parties include the Socialist Party (PS), now in government, the Left Bloc (BE); the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) in coalition with the Green Party, People Animals and Nature Party (PAN) and Livre.

  • The main centre right party is the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Other right-wing parties include the Liberal Initiative and Chega, literally “Enough”, which seats further in the far right.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS
 

Portugal is a member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and the United Nations.

Portugal is committed to European integration and transatlantic relations and member of the European Union, since 1986, and a founding member of the transatlantic defence alliance NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) since 1949.

Portugal has been part of the European Monetary System and the European single currency, the “Euro”, since its creation in 2000. 

Portugal joined the Schengen Agreement, which is a European internal security and border control system that allows travelling across its members without any additional visas and no routine immigration checks when travelling to and from another Schengen country, allowing for faster and easier trips. 

Other members of the Schengen Agreement include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Portugal keeps close relationships with the remaining Portuguese-speaking countries and is a founding member of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP, Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa), created in 1996. 

CPLP is an intergovernmental organization for cooperation among nations where Portuguese is the official language. CPLP’s current members include Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste and Equatorial Guinea.

Portugal has diplomatic relationships with many countries around the world and historic relations with the United Kingdom, which goes back to 1373 with the establishment of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, a treaty still in force, China, where the Portuguese arrived in 1513 and were allowed to establish a settlement where is now the city of Macau in 1554 (China regained control of Macau in 1999), and Japan, where Portuguese where the first westerners to arrive in 1543.

EURO 
 

The currency in Portugal is the Euro, which is the currency of 20 European countries. The Euro is the second most actively traded currency in the World after the United States dollar.

The currency symbol is “€”. It circulates with seven banknotes and eight different coins: banknotes of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and five euros, and coins of two and one euros and 50, 20, 10, five, two, and one cent. Banks are the most accessible places to exchange currencies. Generally, bank exchange commissions are between €3 to €5. 

Debit and major credit cards (especially Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted.

Portugal pioneered establishing a countrywide ATM network, which allows cash withdrawal, money transfers and other services across the country. Even in more remote areas, there will likely be a bank branch with an ATM machine.

The leading banks in Portugal are Caixa Geral de DepósitosMillenium BCP, BPI, Santander and Novo Banco.

LANGUAGE 
 

With its roots in the Latin language, Portuguese belongs to a group of languages called "Roman" or "Neo-Latin" that evolved from Latin. Since the fifteenth century Portuguese spread to America, Africa, India and Oceania. 

Portuguese is now spoken by about 261 million in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, São Tomé e Principe and Timor, making it the sixth most spoken language in the World.

English is spoken widely in Lisbon, Oporto, most of Algarve, and other main tourist destinations. 

If you are visiting Portugal, learning just a few simple Portuguese words would surely facilitate your communication in more remote areas and with native Portuguese that are not fluent in English.

Although most Portuguese nationals do not speak Spanish, most people can understand Spanish. French is less spoken in Portugal than it used to be before it was replaced by English as the second language in schools. Still, French is spoken by some people.

FOREIGN NATIONALS’ ENTRY AND PERMANENCE

EU CITIZENS

Citizens of the European Union (EU) countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Andorra do not require a visa to enter Portugal for short periods of stay, it’s sufficient to hold a valid identification document. British citizens can travel to Portugal for holidays or short trips up to three months without needing a visa, holding only a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time one is in Portugal.

Citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who plan to stay in Portugal for a period exceeding 3 months, should request a registration certificate (certificado de registo) from the municipal council (Câmara Municipal) of the area of residence.

Five consecutive years after holding the registration certificate, their holders may request a permanent residence certificate (certificado de residência permanente) from the Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras).

RESIDENCE PERMITS 
 

Citizens of non-EU countries who wish to live in Portugal should request a residence visa (visto de residência) at the Portuguese embassy in their country of residence. A residence visa is a long-term visa allowing holders to enter Portugal for four months to apply for a permanent residence permit (autorização de residência) from the Foreigners and Borders Services. Residence visas are issued if specific purposes of stay are met, such as:

  • Working as a self-employed person, as an employee, or investing in Portugal as a private entrepreneur;

  • Conducting research, teaching at a higher education institution or carrying out the highly-skilled activity;

  • Studying, volunteering or doing an internship; and 

  • For purposes of family reunification.
START-UP VISA PROGRAM 
 

Following the golden visa impulse, the Institute of Support to Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation (IAPMEI – Agência para a Competitividade Inovação) developed the “Start-Up Visa” program to promote the creation of business and innovative projects.

The program is intended for entrepreneurs who wish to develop their entrepreneurial or innovative projects in Portugal, even if they haven’t already set up a company or if they have business projects in their countries of origin and that wish to carry on their activity in Portugal. Candidates must fulfil the following requirements:

  • Not to have a permanent residence in a country of the Schengen Area 

  • To have fulfilled their obligations before the Portuguese Tax Administration and Social Security (if applicable);

  • Not to have a criminal record;

  • To be of age;

  • To possess the financial resources equivalent to 12 times the Social Support Indexation (IAS).

For the presentation of the application, the candidate must complete an online form with his identification and the other entrepreneurs involved and also the description of the project, accompanied by the following documents:

  • Letter of motivation;

  • Copy of the passport;

  • Criminal record from their origin country;

  • Statement from the bank that proves the existence of own financial means of subsistence and the possibility of transferring these funds to a bank operating in Portugal; and

  • Curriculum vitae;

Applicants should submit their application to one or more incubators on the certified incubators list. In the second phase, the entrepreneur must complete the application information and submit it to IAPMEI through an online platform. Eligible entrepreneurs under the program will conclude an incubation contract with the certified incubator.
 
Learn more by download the pdf below. 
2023-03-27

1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The European Green Deal has set the roadmap for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Renewable energies are inevitably susceptible to variations in availability, as the sun and wind are not programmable. Energy storage is therefore essential to meet European targets. 

Energy storage installed capacity in Portugal is still predominantly based on hydropower pumping, which is today over 3 GW, and will increase to 4,164 GW when the Alto-Tâmega dam is completed this year. However, this paradigm is about to shift with the democratization of energy storage solutions with wind and solar production.

Storage solutions outside hydro generation have been in the electricity legislation since 2019, and they have been considered in the auctions for the allocation of reception capacity in the public service electricity grid ("RESP") or for the purpose of project assessment in agreements with the grid operator.

The new National Electricity System Law enacted by Decree-Law no. 15/2022, of 14 January, which establishes the rules applicable to the licensing of these facilities, also sets some, few, specific rules for storage. 

Energy storage activity can be carried out in one of the following ways:

  • Autonomous Storagewhen the facility has a direct connection to the RESP and is not associated with a power plant or an self-consumption production unit (“UPAC”); or

  • Associated Storagewhen the facility does not have a direct connection to the RESP and is associated with an electricity generation. 

With 21 318 GWh of electricity generated in Portugal between January and June 2022 - 57% of which of renewable origin - storage will be decisive for the much-desired energy transition for two major reasons. On one hand, storage will offset the intermittent generation of renewable energy. On the other, storage ensures that the price of electricity injected into the grid never exceeds a particular value in case of price fluctuations.

2. PRIOR CONTROL: AUTONOMOUS STORAGE 

Electricity generation and autonomous or stand-alone storage facilities are subject to prior control by the Portuguese energy authority (Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia - "DGEG") according to the following procedures:

  • Production and Operation License: applicable to facilities with an installed capacity greater than 1 MW, or if subject to environmental impact assessment (“AIA”) or environmental incidences assessment.

  • Prior Registration and Operation Certificate: applicable to facilities with installed capacity greater than 30 kW and less than or equal to 1 MW and autonomous storage with installed capacity less than 1 MW.

  • Prior Notice: applicable to facilities with an installed capacity greater than 700 kW and equal to or less than 30 kW.

  • Generation facilities' projects with an installed capacity of 700 W or less are exempt from prior control.

The award of a Production License is subject to the prior obtaining a grid capacity reservation title in the RESP (título de reserva de capacidade - "TRC"). 

TRC can be acquired in one of three ways:

  • General Access: applicable if there is reception capacity at the RESP. It is subject to a deposit or bond of EUR10,000.00/MVA to DGEG for a minimum period of 30 months, or until the power plant or storage facility reaches commissioning.

  • Agreement with RESP operator: applicable if there is no reception capacity at RESP and subject to a maximum annual injection capacity set by the Government until 15 January of each year. Requires a deposit to the RESP operator in the amount of EUR15,000.00/MVA for a minimum period of 24 months. After the agreement is executed, this deposit is returned, and a General Access deposit to DGEG must be provided.

  • Tender Procedure: Applicable when the Government sets up a competitive procedure for the award of TRC. The terms and conditions for the award of TRC and the provision of the deposit are established in each tender documents.

3. PRIOR CONTROL: ASSOCIATED STORAGE 
 

The licensing of a storage facility associated with a generation plant may occur:

  • Ab Initio: where the permitting process for the generation and storage facilities start at the same time; or

  • A Posteriori: where a storage facility is installed in an already existing power plant.

In the case of associated storage Ab Initio, the prior control procedure is integrated in the generation plant permitting procedure, which will cover simultaneously the two activities (generation and storage).

The associated storage A posteriori will be construed as a non-substantial amendments to the Production License or Prior Registration, as the case may be. Non-substantial amendments are subject to the prior approval of DGEG and then recorded in the Production License or Prior Registration and, if applicable, in the Operating License or Operating Certificate. DGEG may require a new inspection of the facilities before authorising the amendment.?

The filings to amend the Production License are submitted to DGEG with the documents set out in Annex I to Decree Law n.º 15/2022. In turn, amendments to the Prior Registration are processed through DGEG's electronic platform. ?

Within five days of receipt of the application, DGEG will promote a new consultation to the external entities - such  as the Portuguese environment agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente - "APA") - that have given their opinion in the context of the award of the Production License or Prior Registration. When the amendment relates to a project that has been submitted to an AIA procedure, a new consultation with this entity is waived, if the amendment does not entail any change:

  • To the AIA decision and underlying reasons; and 

  • To the increase of the the footprint of the power plant.

DGEG decides within 15 days after the deadline for reply from the consulted external entities. If the decision is of refusal, DGEG must submit it to prior hearing of the interested party.

4.GENERAL LICENSING RULES

In addition to the prior control procedure described in the two slides above, for the installing of an electricity plant with associated storage or of an autonomous storage facility, other licensing steps will be required:

  • Environmental assessment: Projects with an installed capacity exceeding 50 MW, or with more than 20 MW but located in sensitive areas are subject to AIA, or to an environmental incidences assessment procedure if, regardless of installed capacity, they are in sensitive areas.

  • Local Government Control: Construction of power plants or storage facilities are subject to comply with a licensing construction procedure before the Municipality through the obtainment of (i) a building permit, or (ii) an approval to a prior communication request.

  • Connection to the RESP: Connection between infrastructures connecting to RESP are built at the promoter's expense. Promoters may request expropriation for public utility, as well as request easement rights regarding the properties required for the installation of the electricity infrastructures that will be part of the RESP.

  • Operation License: Must be applied within one year after the award of the Production Licence, Deadline can be extended for another year on grounds beyond the promoter’s control.

  • Operation Certificate: Must be applied within nine months after the award of the Prior Registration. Deadline can be extended for a further half of the initial period on grounds beyond the promoter’s control.

5. LICENSING STEP BY STEP
Autonomous storage and associated storage AB Initio vs Associated Storage a Posteriori
 
6. COMPENSATION TO MUNICIPALITIES

Holders of renewable power plants or of storage facilities, with an allocated connection power greater than 50 MVA are obliged to transfer, on a one-off basis and free of charge, to the municipality or the municipalities where the power plant or storage facility is located:

  • An UPAC with an installed power equal to 0.3% of the connected power of the power station or storage facility; or

  • A storage facility for installation in municipal buildings or collective use equipment; or

  • Electric vehicle charging stations for public use with an equivalent capacity

Learn more by download the pdf below. 

2023-03-14

Since the 2008 financial crisis, the Portuguese banking sector has experienced a complete overhaul. Banco Espírito Santo (“BES”), one of Portugal’s oldest and largest banks, collapsed, along with other smaller banks, including BPN and BPP. Banks in general suffered heavy losses caused by troubled assets in their balance sheets and European pressure to increase solvability and capital ratios. As a result, the government owned Caixa Geral de Depósitos (“CGD”), MillenniumBcp and BPI resorted to government help to overcome their difficulties and meet the new requirements.

Between 2007 and 2018 the Portuguese government spent 23.8 billion euros in aids to the banking sector. Private shareholders of domestic banks also paid a steep price for the restructuring of the sector. Between 2008 and 2012, losses of Portuguese banks exceeded 14.8 billion euros and around 9.4 billion euros between 2012 and 2018. Stocks of the surviving banks fell between 60% and 90% since the financial crisis. Since then, CGD, MillenniumBcp, BPI and Novo Banco, which succeeded to BES, have redressed their business and started to generate cash for their shareholders.

The banking sector consolidated around the five largest banks. Only a few small banks survived. Spanish banks now have a very significant presence in the domestic market. Santander continued to grow its market share. In 2016, Bankinter acquired Barclays’ branch in Portugal. CaixaBank acquired control of BPI in 2017 and Abanca took over Deutsche Bank’s Portuguese operations in 2018.

Between 2015 and 2022, massive sales of non-performing assets have freed banks from bad loans and other assets that heavily burdened their balance sheets. The Portuguese banking sector overall improved significantly. The largest banks generate profits and have stronger balance sheets.

As a setback, Portuguese bank customers now pay higher commissions in a low-competition peripheral market. The size and nature of the Portuguese market and the still fragmented European market severely hinder competition. Also, a consequence of the ECB’s interest rises the cost of credit to homeowners and corporations is increasing. However, banks are not giving back any significant income to depositors while increasing their returns on corporate and private loans.

Against this backdrop, Portuguese banks face new challenges. Customers are looking for alternative electronic banking services and higher returns for their savings. This creates the ideal scenario for new technology-savvy entrants who are ready to take customers dissatisfied with traditional banks.

Companies and investors are also looking for alternatives and several investment funds, including alternative investment funds, are taking a bigger role in the financing of investment projects.

In this briefing, we give an overview of the Portuguese banking market and provide a highlight of the legal and regulatory framework.

1. Market Overview

In 2011, the sovereign debt crisis exposed the excessive indebtedness of the economy, which evidenced the over-indebtedness of individuals, companies and the public sector. Refraining from spending decelerated public investment, the financial assistance programme quieted markets and prepared the country to recover its banking sector, but it slowed down the economy and exposed severe failures in several banks.

After the fall of two smaller banks, BPN and BPP, in 2008, all four major domestic banks suffered from the fall of economic activity and their excessive exposure to public debt. As a result, between 2009 and 2022, the Portuguese Government was forced to inject over 13.9 billion euros into domestic banks.

In April 2011, the Portuguese government was forced to request financial assistance from the EU and the IMF.

As a condition to the international bailout, Portugal agreed to adopt measures to reduce public spending and other measures to straighten the economy. Among other measures, the bailout programme included specific measures to improve the banking sector's stability, strength and liquidity.

In the last decade, the Portuguese government intervened in all significant national banks active in the country. Only a foreign bank, Banco Santander, did not require public support.

CGD was recapitalised when it failed to reimburse the repayment of contingent convertibles (“CoCos”) issued in 2012, ultimately injecting over 5.500 million euros worth of public resources into CGD.

BES, one of the largest and most traditional financial institutions in Portugal, collapsed, making it a case study of the intervention of the regulator, Banco de Portugal (“BoP”), and one of the first resolutions under the European Bank Resolution Directive. The fallout of the Espírito Santo Group’s insolvency and BES resolution continue to make shockwaves and are now the object of several unresolved judicial actions.

BPI and BCP had significant capital injections of contingent capital, in the form of convertible bonds, to reinforce their Tier 1 ratio. Banif, a smaller bank, was subject to resolution and sold to Banco Santander.

In the last years, the sector saw the consolidation and transfers of Portuguese banks, which resulted in a more significant participation of Spanish financial institutions in the local market. CaixaBank acquired BPI. More recently, other Spanish banks entered the market, such as Abanca, which purchased Deutsche Bank’s Portuguese retail business, and Bankinter, which purchased Barclays’s business. 

Banco CTT, owned by Portuguese formerly state-owned Correios de Portugal, acquired 321 Crédito and became the first local project led by a Portuguese company launched in the last decade.

Since the implementation of the bailout programme, the banking sector has benefited from improvements in the economy, as the unemployment rate started to fall consistently since 2013, while the industrial business volume increased.

Interest rates on mortgages and consumer credits continued to slow down since 2011until 2021, when they started increasing as a result of the rise of Euribor.

Meanwhile, credit institutions have all undergone major deleveraging of portfolios through the disposal of non-performing loans (“NPLs”).

At their peak in 2015, NPLs represented 17,5% of the total credit against 3,6% in 2008. In the third quarter of 2022, Portugal’s bad credit represented 3,2% of the total credit. 

Simultaneously, as banks reach out to recover their health through the sale of non-performing assets, generally, they are confronted with the disruptive power of new technology and regulation within the provision of banking and financial services.

The reputational crisis of traditional industries, of which the banking sector is a part, along with an enlarged, diversified and more agile and customised offer of financial services through new or existent technology, will – and already is – reshaping the banking industry.

The Portuguese banking sector is not an exception to this: 64% of the Portuguese fintech ecosystem comprises companies or start-ups whose core business overlaps that of banks, such as lending and credit, alternative financing, wealth management, payment systems, money transfers, etc.

Today, the sector is driven by online solutions with reduced costs and speedy and agile services, and growing trust in the supporting technology. The market is yet to steer into a truly technological ecosystem where AI and multidisciplinary efforts will build around digital trust.

2. Regulatory approvals

2.1. Banking activities

The main rules on the banking activity are set out in Decree-Law 298/92, of 31 December 1992, which approved the Legal Framework of Credit Institutions and Financial Companies (“Banking Law”) and Regulation (EU) 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (“Capital Requirement Regulation” or “CRR”).

In Portugal, banking activities may only be carried out on a professional basis by:

  • Credit institutions and financial companies with their head office in Portugal;
  • Branches of credit institutions and financial companies having their head office abroad; and
  • Credit institutions and financial companies with head offices in a Member State under the freedom to provide services.

Alternative investment funds (“AIF”) specialised in the granting of loans (the so-called “Loan Funds”) are also allowed to grant credit in Portugal.

2.2. Credit institutions

Credit institutions having their head office in Portugal must be incorporated as a public limited liability company (sociedade anónima) and have the following:

  • For sole corporate purpose, the exercise of a banking activity;
  • The required minimum share capital;
  • Their primary and effective place of administration is located in Portugal;
  • Sound corporate governance arrangements, including a clear organisational structure, with well-defined, transparent and coherent lines of responsibility;
  • Internal procedures for identifying, managing, controlling and communicating the risks to which it is or may be exposed;
  • Appropriate internal control mechanisms, including sound administrative and accounting procedures;
  • Remuneration policies and practices that promote and are consistent with sound and prudent risk management;
  • Members of the management and supervisory bodies whose suitability, professional qualifications, independence and availability ensure a sound and prudent management of the credit institution on an individual or collective basis.

The decision of the BoP must be notified within six months of receipt of the application or, if applicable, the additional information requested by the BoP, but in any event, no later than 12 months from the date of initial submission of the application to the BoP.

2.3. Branches

Credit institutions authorised in other Member States of the EU may establish a branch in Portugal.

The branch may carry out any of the operations listed in Appendix I to Directive 2013/36/EU of 26 June 2013 (“Banking Directive”), which the credit institution is authorised to perform in its home country.

It is a condition for the establishment of the branch that the BoP receives a communication from the home country's supervisory authority, including the:

  • activities programme, indicating, inter alia, the type of operations to be carried out and the organisational structure of the branch, as well as certification that such operations are included in the authorisation of the credit institution;
  • address of the branch in Portugal;
  • identification of the branch’s managers;
  • amount of the credit institution's own funds;
  • solvency ratio of the credit institution;
  • a detailed description of the deposit guarantee scheme in which the credit institution participates and which provides protection for the clients of the branch; and
  • a detailed description of the investor compensation scheme in which the credit institution participates to ensure the protection of the investor clients of the branch.

Credit institutions authorised in other Member States of the EU may also establish a branch in Portugal. However, establishing the branch is subject to prior authorisation of the BoP, and the credit institutions must comply with the capital requirements set out for Portuguese resident credit institutions.

2.4. Freedom to provide services

Credit institutions authorised in another Member State of the EU may also perform banking activities in Portuguese territory even if they do not have a branch in Portugal.

The activity in the Portuguese territory of credit institutions with a head office abroad must comply with Portuguese law, namely the rules governing transactions with foreign exchange transactions.

It is a condition for the beginning of the provision of services in Portugal that the credit institution notifies the competent authority of its home Member State and the latter sends this communication to the BoP.

The BoP may determine that the institution clarifies publicly its status, characteristics, main elements of activity and financial situation.

2.5. Loan funds

The Loan Funds were introduced in Portugal in September 2019.

Loan Funds are a specific type of AIF that is authorised to grant loans and acquire performing and non-performing loans held by financial institutions.

Loan Funds must be authorised by the Portuguese Securities Commission (“CMVM”) and, therefore, are not subject to the authorisation of the Bank of Portugal.

The Loan Fund assets may consist of the following:

  • loans granted or acquired;
  • liquidity up to 20% of the total assets;
  • debt securities issued by eligible borrowers up to 20% of the total assets; and
  • other assets that arise from the satisfaction of credits or that are necessary to maximise their satisfaction.

2.6. Acquisition of qualifying shareholdings

Any investor who intends to own, directly or indirectly, a qualifying holding in a credit institution must inform the BoP of such intention in advance.

Any increases of qualifying holdings must also be previously communicated to the BoP, whenever the increased holding may reach or exceed 10%, 20%, one-third or 50% of the share capital or the voting rights or when the credit institution becomes a subsidiary of the acquiring entity.

The BoP may oppose the proposed acquisition if the proposed acquirer does not fulfil the conditions to ensure a sound and prudent management of the credit institution or if the proposed acquirer has provided incomplete information. For this assessment, the BoP will consider the following criteria:

  • The suitability of the proposed acquirer;
  • The reputation, professional qualification, independence and availability of the members of the management body of the credit institution to be appointed as a result of the proposed acquisition;
  • The financial soundness of the proposed acquirer;
  • Whether the credit institution will be able to comply and continue to comply with the applicable prudential requirements;
  • Whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect that, in connection with the proposed acquisition, money laundering or terrorist financing is being or has been committed or attempted, or the proposed acquisition could increase the risk thereof.

2.7. Suitability of board members

The suitability of the board members of credit institutions will be subject to an evaluation throughout their term in office.

In particular, the board members must have the capacity to ensure, at all times, the sound and prudent management of the credit institutions to safeguard the financial system and the interests of their clients, depositors, investors and other creditors.

In addition to the self-assessment that credit institutions must carry out, the suitability of the board members is also assessed by the BoP as part of the authorisation process in relation to the incorporation of credit institutions or the acquisition of qualifying holdings that involve changes to the board of the credit institution.

In addition, whenever new board members are appointed, credit institutions must also request the prior authorisation of the BoP.

The board members must comply with the relevant reputation, professional qualification, independence and availability requirements:

  • Reputation. Board members must not have been involved in circumstances that affect their reputation (e.g. insolvency, criminal proceedings).
  • Professional qualification. Board members must possess the necessary skills and qualifications for performing their duties and appropriate professional experience taking into account the nature, complexity and size of the credit institution, as well as the risks associated with the activity carried out by it.
  • Independence. Board members may not be unduly influenced by other persons or entities and must be able to perform their duties impartially.
  • Availability. Board members of significant credit institutions are prohibited from accumulating more than one executive position with two non-executive executives or four non-executive positions unless otherwise provided by law or authorised by the BoP.

The suitability assessment will also apply to members of supervisory bodies and persons that will assume positions that may influence the credit institution's management, such as those responsible for the compliance, internal audit, control and risk management functions.

3. Rules of Conduct

Credit institutions must ensure high levels of technical compliance in all activities and ensure a business organisation with the human and material resources required to ensure appropriate quality and efficiency conditions.

In their relations with customers and other credit institutions, the management board and the staff of credit institutions must act with diligence, neutrality, loyalty, discretion and scrupulous regarding the interests entrusted to them.

3.1. Advertising

BoP regulates the information and transparency duties that credit institutions must comply with in advertising, regardless of the means used.

Reference to the deposit guarantee scheme or the investor compensation scheme in advertising must be factual and may not contain any consideration nor make comparisons with deposit guarantee schemes or investor compensation instruments provided by other institutions.

Credit institutions authorised in other EU Member States may advertise their services in Portugal under the same terms and conditions as institutions having their head office in Portugal.

3.2. Retail marketing

Credit institutions must inform their customers of the remuneration they offer for the funds received, the features of the products offered, charges for services provided, and other costs to be borne by customers.

In particular, institutions authorised to grant consumer credit must provide their customers, before execution of the loan contracts, with adequate information, in printed or other durable formats, on the conditions of the credit and total cost, as well as on obligations and risks associated with default. Furthermore, these institutions must ensure that credit intermediation companies provide the same information.

Credit institutions must adopt codes of conduct and inform customers about their existence, at least on their websites. Said codes must include the principles and rules of conduct governing the various aspects of their relationship with customers, including the mechanisms and internal procedures adopted for assessing complaints.

3.3. Remuneration

To prevent potential damage to customers and minimise the risk of conflicts of interest, credit institutions must adopt specific remuneration and assessment policies for the staff with direct or indirect contact with customers in the retail marketing of financial products.

In particular, these policies must ensure that the employees dealing with retail customers will always act in the customer's best interest and may not be remunerated or evaluated in a way that may constitute an incentive for the retail marketing of specific financial products or instruments.

4. Prudential supervision

4.1. Share Capital

The minimum share capital of banks is €17,500,000, but the minimum share capital of other credit institutions may vary from €100.000 to €5.000.000.

4.2. Own funds

Credit institutions’ own funds may not fall below the minimum share capital amount.

Credit institutions that were already in existence on 1 January 1993, the amount of own funds of which do not attain the amount of initial capital required, may continue to conduct their activities. Still, the amount of own funds of those institutions may not fall below the highest level reached with effect from 22 December 1989.

The credit institutions’ own funds include the base own funds plus the complementary own funds less the amount corresponding to capital allocated to securitisation.

4.3. Reserves

Part of the net profits of a credit institution for each fiscal year, which cannot be less than 10%, must be allocated to a legal reserve, up to an amount equal to the share capital or the sum of its established free reserves or the carry forward results, if higher.

Credit institutions must also create special reserves to strengthen their shareholders' equity and to cover losses.

4.4. Shareholdings

Credit institutions may not own, directly or indirectly, for more than three years a shareholding in an undertaking that corresponds to more than 25% of the voting rights of such undertaking. The limit is five years for indirect holdings owned through venture capital companies and holding companies.

These limits will not apply to shareholdings in other credit institutions, financial companies, financial institutions, ancillary services companies, credit securitisation companies, insurance companies, subsidiaries of insurance companies held according to the law applicable to the latter, brokers and insurance intermediaries, pension fund management companies, venture capital companies and holding companies which only have equity holdings in the companies referred to above, as well as credit institutions’ holdings in real estate investment funds for housing rental and real estate investment companies.

4.5. Credit granted to qualifying shareholders.

Credit institutions may not grant credit, including the provision of guarantees, to a person who owns, directly or indirectly, a qualifying shareholding in a credit institution or to companies directly or indirectly controlled by such entity or belonging to the same group over the 10% of the institution’s own funds.

The total amount of credit granted to all qualifying shareholders shall not exceed, at any time, 30% of the credit institution’s own funds.

This shall not apply to the granting of credit of which the beneficiaries are credit institutions, financial companies or holding companies which are included in the supervision perimeter on a consolidated basis to which the credit institution concerned is subject, nor to pension fund management companies, insurance undertakings, brokers and other insurance mediators that control or are controlled by any entity included in the same perimeter.

4.6. Acquisition of real estate

Credit institutions may not, except with the prior authorisation of the BoP, acquire real estate assets other than those required for their setting up and operation or in connection with the performance of their activity.

4.7. Governance

The management and supervisory bodies of the credit institutions are responsible, within the scope of their respective functions, for the design and application of governance models, which must ensure the effective and prudent management of the institutions, including the separation of functions within the organisation to prevent conflicts of interest.

When designing the governance model, it is up to the management and supervisory bodies, within the scope of their respective functions, to:

  • Take responsibility for the credit institution, approve and supervise the implementation of strategic objectives, risk strategy and government;
  • Ensure the integrity of the accounting and financial information systems, including financial and operational control and compliance with legislation applicable to the credit institution;
  • Supervise the disclosure and reporting duties to the BoP;
  • Monitor and control the activity of the top management.

The management and supervisory bodies of credit institutions are also responsible for defining, approving and controlling the governance models relating to, among others:

  • Product and service policies;
  • The organisation of the credit institution for the design and sale of deposits and credit products, including qualifications, technical capacity and knowledge of its employees, resources and governance and monitoring procedures, taking into account the nature, scale and complexity of its activities; and
  • The remuneration policy of employees who have direct contact with customers in the sale of deposits and credit products, as well as the employees who, directly or indirectly, are involved in the management or supervision of these people.

5. Ratios

5.1. Capital requirements

According to the Capital Requirement Regulation, which closely follows Basel III standards, as a rule, credit institutions must satisfy at all times the following own fund requirements:

  • Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4,5 %;
  • Tier 1 capital ratio of 6%; and
  • Total capital ratio of 8%.

These ratios compare the relevant own fund items with the risk-weighted assets (“RWA”) in accordance with the CRR.

The Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) is a component of Tier 1 capital and includes shares, other capital instruments that rank below all other claims in the event of insolvency, share premium accounts, retained earnings, other reserves and funds for general banking risk.

Tier 1 capital includes, in addition to CET1, the Additional Tier 1 (“AT1”), which consists of capital instruments ranking below Tier 2 instruments in the event of insolvency and the related share premium accounts.

Tier 2 (“T2”) includes, among others, subordinated instruments and related share premium accounts ranking below CET1.

In addition to the minimum capital requirements above (the so-called “Pillar 1” requirements), credit institutions must also comply with the Pillar 2 requirement (“P2R”), which covers risks that are underestimated or not covered by the Pillar 1 requirements. The P2R results from the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (“SREP”) carried out by the European Central Bank.

The capital demand resulting from the SREP also includes the Pillar 2 Guidance (“P2G”), which indicates the adequate level of capital to be maintained to provide a sufficient buffer to withstand stressed situations. However, unlike the P2R, the P2G is not legally binding.

Below is an overview of the minimum capital requirements (Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 requirements): 

5.2. Capital buffers

On top of the 4.5% CET1 ratio, credit institutions must also hold the following capital buffers:

  • Capital conservation buffer (“CCoB”) of up to 2.5% of RWA.
  • Global Systemically Important Institutions (“G-SIIs”) capital buffer with no upper limit. Presently, no G-SIIs are carrying out banking activity in Portugal.
  • Other Systemically Important Institutions (“O-SIIs”) capital buffer of up to 3%. In Portugal, this buffer applies to certain institutions and ranges between 0.188% and 0.75%.
  • Countercyclical capital buffer (“CCyB”) between 0% and 2.5% of RWA. This buffer requires banks to accumulate capital when cyclical systemic risk is increased to improve their resilience during stress periods when losses materialise.
  • Systemic risk buffer (“SyRB”) in intervals of 0.5% of all or some of the exposures, subject to a cap of 5%, which applies to the sum of G-SII/O-SII and SyRB buffers. This buffer is intended to prevent and reduce systemic risks not covered by other instruments.

If the institution breaches any of these buffers, automatic safeguard measures will apply to limit the amount of dividend and bonus payments until compliance is restored.

5.3. Other ratios

In addition to capital ratios and buffers, credit institutions must also meet a Liquidity Coverage Ratio (“LCR”) of at least 100% as required by the LCR Delegated Regulation.

Banks should also have sufficient capacity on their balance sheet to absorb losses (loss-absorbing capacity) and, in case of resolution, to ensure recapitalisation. As of January 2022, credit institutions will also have to comply with the Minimum Requirements for own funds and Eligible Liabilities (“MREL”).

As of 28 June 2021, the following ratios will have to be met:

  • Leverage Ratio (“LR”) of 3%; and
  • Net Stable Funding Ratio (“NSFR”) of at least 100%.

The LR measures a bank's core capital to its total assets to determine how leveraged a bank is in relation to its consolidated assets.

The NSFR is aimed at forcing banks to finance long-term assets with long-term money to avoid the liquidity failures seen during the 2007/08 global financial crisis.

6. Supervisory measures

The BoP reviews the strategies, policies, procedures and systems implemented by credit institutions to comply with the banking regulations and assesses:

  • the risks to which credit institutions are or may be exposed;
  • the exposures to the financial system that a credit institution faces, taking into account the identification and quantification of systemic risk under Regulation (EU) 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 or, as the case may be, the recommendations of the European Systemic Risk Board; and
  • the risks revealed by stress tests, considering the nature, level and complexity of the credit institutions' activities.

In particular, the BoP must determine whether the strategies, policies, procedures and systems implemented by the credit institutions and the own funds and liquidity they hold guarantee the sound management and cover their risks.

The BoP determines, in accordance with the principle of proportionality, the frequency and intensity of the assessment, considering the size, systemic importance, nature, level and complexity of the activities of the credit institution in question.

6.1. Corrective measures

The BoP may require credit institutions that do not comply with the banking regulations or that are at risk of breaching such regulations within one year, to adopt immediately the measures or actions necessary to remedy or prevent such breach, such as:

  • Holding own funds over the minimum requirements;
  • Strengthening of the strategies, policies, procedures and systems put in place for corporate governance, internal control and self-assessment of risks;
  • Applying specific provisioning or asset treatment policy for capital requirements purposes;
  • Restricting or limiting the activities, operations or branches or the divestment of activities that present excessive risks to their soundness;
  • Limiting the variable remuneration as a percentage of net profits where such remuneration is not consistent with maintaining a sound capital base;
  • Limiting or prohibiting interest or dividend payments to shareholders or holders of AT1 instruments;
  • Imposing additional or more frequent reporting, including on the capital and liquidity position;
  • Imposing specific liquidity requirements, including restrictions on maturity mismatches between assets and liabilities;

The application of measures is subject to adequacy and proportionality principles and should take into account the risk or degree of non-compliance and the seriousness of the consequences on the financial soundness of the institution concerned, interests of depositors or the stability of the financial system.

The BoP may also determine the application of more specific measures, within a period that it deems appropriate, including, without limitation:

  • Preparation and presentation of an action programme that identifies and proposes scheduled solutions to ensure compliance;
  • Submission of a restructuring plan by the credit institution;
  • Appointment of a supervisory board or a single auditor;
  • Restrictions on granting of credit and the application of funds in certain types of assets, in particular in respect of transactions carried out with subsidiaries, their parent undertakings or subsidiaries thereof, as well as with entities domiciled in offshore jurisdictions;
  • Restrictions on deposits, their types and remuneration;
  • Approval of certain transactions by BoP;
  • Presentation of a plan for the negotiation of debt restructuring with its creditors;
  • Carrying out an audit of all or part of the activity of the credit institution, by an independent entity appointed by BoP, at the institution's expense;
  • Changes in the functional structures of the credit institution, namely by eliminating or changing top management positions or by terminating the assignment to that position of the respective holders;
  • Changes to the management strategy of the credit institution;
  • Carrying out on-site inspections and preparing for potential resolution of the credit institution.

6.2. Resolution measures

If the corrective measures applied are not sufficient to ensure the recovery of the credit institution the BoP may, as an alternative:

  • Suspend or dismiss members of the management body and appoint new members;
  • Apply a resolution measure; and
  • Revoke the institution’s authorisation.

BoP may apply the following resolution measures:

  • Partial or total transfer of the business;
  • Partial or total transfer of the business to a bridge institution;
  • Segregation and partial or total transfer of the business to an asset management vehicle;
  • Internal recapitalization.

When implementing a resolution measure, the BoP must:

  • Ensure the continuity of the provision of financial services essential to the economy;
  • Prevent serious consequences on the financial stability;
  • Safeguard the taxpayers’ interests and minimize recourse to extraordinary public financial support;
  • Protect depositors whose deposits are guaranteed by the Deposit Guarantee Fund and investors whose claims are covered by the Investor Compensation Scheme;
  • Protect the funds and assets held by credit institutions in the name and on behalf of their clients and the provision of related investment services.

The BoP will determine the resolution measures that best achieve these purposes on a case-by-case basis.

The BoP must also ensure that:

  • Shareholders will bear the losses of the institution;
  • Creditors will bear the losses on equitable terms, in accordance with the ranking of their claims;
  • No shareholder or creditor will bear a loss exceeding that which it would have incurred had the credit institution went into liquidation (“no worst off” rule); and
  • Depositors will not bear a loss on deposits guaranteed by the Deposit Guarantee Fund.

6.3. Sanctions

Any person who pursues an activity consisting of receiving deposits or other repayable funds from the public, on his account or on behalf of others, without the necessary authorisation shall be punished by imprisonment of up to five years.

Anyone refusing to comply with the legitimate orders or warrants of BoP, issued within the scope of their functions, or creating, in any way, obstacles to their execution, shall be liable to the penalty provided for the crime of qualified disobedience if BoP or an official has issued a warning of such commission.

Some offences are punishable by a fine ranging from €3,000 to €1,500,000 (or €1,000 to €500,000, in case the offence is committed by a natural person), such as:

  • the exercise of an activity in breach of the rules on registration with the BoP;
  • the infringement of the rules on the subscription or paying-up of share capital;
  • non-compliance in relation to the prudential limits determined by law, the Ministry of Finance or the BoP;
  • failure to comply with accounting rules and procedures determined by law or the BoP; and
  • the omission of information and communications due to Banco de Portugal, within the established deadlines, and the provision of incomplete information.

Other severe offences are punishable by a fine of € 10,000 to € 5,000,000 (or € 4,000 to €5,000,000, in case the offence is committed by a natural person), namely, and among others:

  • the unauthorised practice by any individual or entity of transactions reserved for credit institutions or financial companies;
  • the fraudulent payment of the capital;
  • falsifying accounts and the non-existence of organised accounting, as well as non-compliance with other applicable accounting rules determined by law or BoP;
  • breach of rules on credit granted to holders of qualifying holdings;
  • wilful acts of ruinous management, to the detriment of depositors, investors and other creditors, practised by members of the corporate bodies;
  • failure to comply with the obligations to contribute to the Deposit Guarantee Fund or the Resolution Fund;
  • the acquisition of a qualifying holding despite the opposition of the competent authority;
  • failure to comply with the capital adequacy ratios;
  • failure to comply with the limits to large exposures.
2023-02-10

With a considerable delay, in August 2022, Law 16/2022, of 16 August 2022, (“Electronic Communications Law” - "ECL") transposed into Portuguese law the European Electronic Communications Code (“European Code” - “EECC”).

Despite the absence of changes in critical elements, the ECL brings in some crucial innovations regarding (i) consumer rights, (ii) sanctioning framework, and (iii) privacy in electronic communications.

Compared with 2005 electronic communications law (Law 5/2004, of 10 February), the ECL has a more extensive scope due to a broader definition of “electronic communications service”. Under the new definition, in addition to the individually addressed signal services delivered through electronic communications networks, "electronic communications services" now include other services not dependent on numbers, such as internet access services, machine-to-machine communications and the so-called over-the-top services (“OTT”).

The rules entered into force 90 days after the ECL enactment (14 November 2022), with the following exceptions:

  • Rules covering the charges required in the event of early termination of the agreement on the consumer's initiative (see articles 136/4 and 136/5 of the ECL) will enter into force only 60 days after its publication, i.e., more precisely, on 13 January 2023;
  • Rules on emergency communications and a single European emergency number which shall take effect from the moment the access to an emergency service is opened to the public by the competent national authorities; and
  • Rules on network and service security, including additional requirements and assistance and cooperation arrangements with the National Computer Security Incident Response Team (Equipa de Resposta a Incidentes de Segurança Informática Nacional), which came into force immediately with the publication of the ECL.

It is worth mentioning that, back in 2004, the Portuguese legislators had already unified five EU Directives into a single piece of legislation, creating a structurally cohesive framework that was broadly maintained until 2022. Even so, by mid-2021, in addition to the 2004 Electronic Communications Law, the Portuguese communications’ regulatory framework consisted also of 46 other diplomas: 23 laws and 16 administrative regulations.

Therefore, it is not a surprise that, despite substantive changes, particularly regarding consumers and the sanctioning framework with a material impact on the operators’ financial and operational balance, the ECL has generally preserved the structure of the preceding legislation.

1. ANACOM AND OTHER COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

The Portuguese Communication Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações - "ANACOM") is Portugal’s National Regulatory Authority (Autoridade Reguladora Nacional - "NRA") for the communications sector.

The definition of “communications”, which serves to set ANACOM’s scope, includes electronic and postal communications. The ECL clarified ANACOM’s role in areas where its jurisdiction was undefined and extended its role to new market sectors.

As an example, the ECL's expanded regulatory authority now covers Over-The-Top (OTT) services. While these services operate exclusively at the application level of data transmission networks, the ECL classifies OTT as network services for legal and market analysis purposes, including what concerns end-users’ rights.

The ECL assigns ANACOM a broad range of regulatory, supervisory, control, and enforcement responsibilities for the entire communications sector. Specifically, ANACOM is responsible for the following:

  • Promoting the competition in the electronic communications networks and services supply;
  • Ensuring access to networks, infrastructures, facilities, and services;
  • Protecting the rights and interests of consumers and other end-users; and
  • Ensuring access to the universal electronic and postal communications service, including by enforcing universal service obligations.

Among other changes, the ECL grants ANACOM additional powers and responsibilities, particularly around spectrum management. ANACOM now has the authority to promote shared use of the radio spectrum, where multiple operators can access the same frequency bands through the allocation of rights of use for frequencies (in Portuguese, “Direitos de Utilização de Frequências” or “DUF”).

Additionally, the ECL clarifies that regulations for competitive or comparative selection procedures for radio spectrum rights of use will be approved by the government official in charge of the communications sector.

The ECL is aligned with the European Electronic Communications Code in including the participation of "other competent authorities" in the communications sector. These entities, such as the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil – ANEPC”), are legally granted specific powers, particularly when it comes to end-users rights.

For this reason, the ECL mandates ANACOM to cooperate with "other relevant entities" in organising public consultations and sharing information on matters of joint interest related to emergency communications.

2. GENERAL AUTHORISATION, FREQUENCIES, NUMBERS AND SECURITY

2.1. GENERAL AUTHORISATION FRAMEWORK

The provision of electronic communications networks and services is free; companies are free to offer electronic communications services without the need for prior authorisation from the regulator, except for the allocation of rights of use for elements such as frequency bands (DUFs) and numbering rights.

Companies that wish to provide public electronic communications networks and publicly available electronic communications services are required to notify ANACOM before starting operations. This notification must include the following:

  • A statement of the applicant’s intention to begin operations;
  • Identification details of the applicant, as well as its website associated with the provision of public electronic communications networks and publicly available electronic communications services;
  • Contact information for communications and notices, including a mandatory email address;
  • A brief overview of the planned network and services; and
  • The expected service launch date.

It is worth mentioning that companies not subject to the general authorisation regime under the ECL are not required to fulfil this prior notification to ANACOM requirement before launching their operations. Similarly, this requirement does not apply to providers of electronic communications services not intended for public access.

Through specific regulations, ANACOM may also exempt from this requirement companies providing specific public electronic communications networks and publicly available electronic communications services.

2.2. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

Companies providing electronic communications networks and services will continue to be bound by several general conditions established in the previous law. These include:

  • Access obligations;
  • Obligations related to the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector;
  • Obligations to install and make lawful interception systems available to national authorities and to provide decryption means when such facilities are offered;
  • Conditions of use of the radium spectrum for electronic communications services; and
  • Conditions of use to ensure communications between emergency services, competent authorities, and civil protection agents with the public in general.

Entities not subject to the general authorisation regime are not subject to these general conditions.

In addition to these, companies providing electronic communications networks and services may be subject to specific conditions, particularly in relation to access and interconnection, retail market controls, and universal service.

Finally, it is also important to note that companies offering independent interpersonal communications services may, in certain cases, be subject to access and interconnection obligations under the changes introduced by the ECL.

2.3. OPERATOR’S RIGHTS

The ECL grants rights to companies providing electronic communications networks or services, whether intended for public access or not, including the right to request the establishment of rights of way and the right to use the radio frequency spectrum to deploy their networks and services.

Companies offering public networks or services have additional rights such as the right to apply as universal service providers or to deploy their coverage in all areas of the country.

These rights may be modified by legislation, regulatory or administrative statutes, provided these are objectively justified and proportional, and must be approved by the rights holder, and are subject to a public consultation procedure, which allows interested parties to offer their view, unless the changes are considered insignificant or do not affect the fundamental nature of the rights of use.

The holders of DUF as well as numbering resources have a general guarantee of non-restriction and irrevocability of these rights until the end of their validity period. However, the law sets out criteria by which these rights may be restricted or revoked in advance by the NRA. Such cases include:

  • Permission given by the holder;
  • Justified circumstances to ensure the effective and efficient use of numbering resources or radium spectrum; and the application of technical implementing measures adopted under article 4 of the Radium Spectrum Decision.

Restriction or revocation of rights without the consent of the holder or in unjustified cases must follow a legal procedure that respect the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.

In case of restriction or revocation, holders are entitled to compensation for any unique and abnormal charges or damages suffered, which will be calculated by ANACOM under the State and other public entities' extra-contractual liability rules.

Summarising, the ECL does not bring significant innovations in this area, but it clarifies that the rules apply to Over-The-Top (OTT) services and companies that wish to offer electronic communications services not accessible to the public.

2.4. THE RADIO SPECTRUM

The radio frequency spectrum, through which electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 3kHz and 3000GHz may be transmitted, constitutes a public resource of great economic and social importance for the country. This is evident not only in the amounts paid for rights to use it but also in the intense public debate surrounding issues related to it.

ANACOM is responsible for the management of the spectrum and must promote its efficient use pursuant to the principle of technological and service neutrality. The first of these principles states that any forms of technology may be used in the frequency bands allocated to electronic communications services, and the second that any type of electronic communications services may be offered through the available frequency bands.

The ECL did not make any fundamental changes to ANACOM’s role, which continues to hold most of the powers it previously had, such as the power to assign, modify, or renew rights of use, and even the power to authorise their transfer or lease.

Following the 5G DUF auction debacle, the ECL introduced two seemingly contradictory changes on future frequency awarding procedures. On the one hand, new powers are granted to ANACOM, as regarding the protection of competitive usage of frequencies. At the same time, ANACOM was stripped of the ability to decide on the selection frequency allocation procedures, which the Government must directly approve.

From a legal perspective, the regulator is responsible for establishing the general conditions for authorisation and determining the most appropriate technical requirements for the use of the radio spectrum.

The ECL reiterates that ANACOM's responsibilities for granting rights of use for frequencies of electronic communications networks or services. These rights are always subject limited in time. For example, rights of use for the spectrum for wireless broadband electronic communications services are granted for 15 years, subject to possible renewal.

Like the previous regime, ANACOM is also responsible for defining conditions associated with the rights of use of the spectrum, which, if breached, allows the regulator to revoke the rights of use or impose other measures. These conditions must be proportional, transparent, and non-discriminatory, such as setting maximum periods of rights of use.

The ECL innovates by introducing the possibility of shared use of the radio spectrum.

The renewal of rights of use is possible, but the renewal rules have been significantly changed under by the ECL:

  • Under the previous law, the renewal of rights of use for the radio frequency spectrum was solely dependent on the initiative of the holder; and
  • Under the ECL, ANACOM may proactively determine the need for the renewal for the radio frequency spectrum.

Holders of rights of use for the radio frequency spectrum may also apply for renewal to the regulator on their own initiative, at least 18 months and no more than five years before the expiration date. It is worth noting that the previous law only allowed for a minimum of one year's notice. In any case, the regulator must respond to renewal requests within a maximum period of six consecutive months, starting from the date of receipt.

In the case of rights of use whose number is limited, interested parties must be given the opportunity to provide their opinions on the renewal during a public consultation procedure.

Since rights of use are licensed to operators, they are subject to periodic payment of fees, which, except in exceptional cases, are mainly intended to cover the costs of radio supervision.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the National Frequency Allocation Framework (Quadro Nacional de Atribuição de Frequências - "QNAF", which may be accessed through this link) is the instrument for the technical management of the radium spectrum, which defines the conditions of use according to its purpose.

2.4.1. TRANSFER AND LEASE OF RIGHTS OF USE

The ECL allows the transfer or leasing of rights of use for the radium spectrum.

As a rule, if the holder of the right wishes to transfer or lease it, they can do so through a request to the regulator. The regulator must then decide within 45 business days.

However, in some cases, the transfer or leasing of rights of use is not permitted. These cases include, for example, rights that have been allocated free of charge or for the provision of radio program services and the distribution of television and radio program services, as part of specific procedures for meeting public interest objectives.

2.4.2. COMPETITION

Under the ECL, the NRA must promote effective competition in the European Union internal market when allocating, modifying, or renewing rights of use for frequencies, by avoiding any distortion of competition to the extent possible. In this context, ANACOM, as the NRA, has been given strengthened powers to adopt or propose remedies to other competent authorities to prevent competition distortions. These measures may include, among others:

  • Restricting the number of spectrum bands for which rights of use are granted or attaching conditions to these rights;
  • Setting aside parts of a spectrum band or group of bands for allocation to new market entrants; and
  • Refusing to grant new rights of use or authorize new uses of spectrum in specific bands, and attaching conditions to their allocation, transmission or lease, to prevent competition distortion.
  • In taking such measures, the regulator should base its decisions on an objective and prospective assessment of the competitive conditions in the market and the necessity of such actions.

2.5. NUMBERING RESOURCES

The ECL establishes ANACOM as the entity responsible for managing numbering resources in Portugal.

The “numbering resources”, that is the structured set of codes used by electronic communications networks to route signals, are part of the National Numbering Plan (Plano Nacional de Numeração – “PNN”, accessible through this link), or an international numbering plan. ANACOM has the power to administer and assign these numbers, which can identify networks, network elements, end-users, services or applications using these services and networks.

The ECL states that ANACOM is responsible for ensuring that numbering resources are available for the provision of public electronic communications networks and publicly available electronic communications services.

Companies must submit a specific and justified request to ANACOM to be allocated the rights to use these resources.

ANACOM uses the National Numbering Plan as the technical tool to manage the allocation of these numbers, which also includes the criteria for each number range.

2.6. SECURITY AND EMERGENCY

The ECL not only outlines general responsibilities for the coordination of electronic communication networks and services during crisis, war, serious accidents or disasters, and threats to internal security, but also emphasizes two specific regulations:

  • First, companies offering mobile interpersonal communication services based on numbers must provide free public warnings in the event of imminent or ongoing emergencies, accidents, or disasters; and
  • Second, all end-users of communication services have the right to access the European emergency number 112, free of charge, to make emergency calls.

3. MARKET ANALYSIS AND REGULATORY CONTROLS

3.1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

According to the ECL, the market analysis and the imposition of specific undertakings must comply with the principle of full justification, meaning that decisions must be based on legal requirements and follow a prior public consultation procedure.

The definition of relevant products and geographic markets in the telecommunications sector and the determination of which companies have significant market power are ANACOM’s responsibilities.

3.2. MARKET ANALYSIS

The ECL assigns ANACOM the responsibility of defining and analysing the relevant product and service markets in the electronic communications sector, considering the level of infrastructure competition in those areas.

Based on this analysis, ANACOM may determine that it is necessary to impose specific obligations when:

  • There are barriers to market entry;
  • The market structure does not allow for effective competition; and
  • Competition Law alone is not sufficient to address specific shortcomings.

This analysis can be conducted not only for national and transnational telecom markets, in cooperation with European authorities.

3.3. OBLIGATIONS ON OPERATORS WITH SIGNIFICANT MARKET POWER

The ECL maintains the traditional definition of significant market power is a strong economic position allowing a company to act independently of its competitors, customers and end-users.

Like the previous law, the ECL allows the regulator to impose certain obligations on companies that have significant market power. These obligations may include the following:

  • The requirement to meet reasonable requests for access to and use of infrastructure, such as civil engineering assets owned by the company;
  • In the absence of effective competition, the regulator may impose cost-oriented pricing and cost accounting system obligations for specific types of interconnections and access. However, the ECL now has stricter conditions for applying these obligations. ANACOM must consider the benefits of having predictable and stable wholesale prices that encourage efficient market entry and incentives for companies to develop new and more advanced networks, particularly in areas of low population density; and
  • The ECL aligns with the European Electronic Communications Code by recognizing that establishing a wholesale market can positively affect retail market competition, reducing competitive risks.

As a result, wholesale companies will be subject to a more favourable regulatory regime. They may only be required to comply with non-discrimination obligations, access and use of specific network elements and associated facilities, or obligations related to fair, equitable, and reasonable pricing. However, the applicability of this rule is dependent on the company meeting strict cumulative requirements. This may make it difficult for some companies to qualify.

Companies with significant market power are now subject to specific obligations regarding infrastructure migration. For example, to address the potential competitive consequences of migration from old copper networks to next-generation networks, legislation requires these companies to provide prior notification when they plan to deactivate or replace their infrastructure, in whole or in part.

Access obligations do not only apply to companies with significant market power. To ensure some level of economic efficiency, the regulator has the power to impose required access obligations on operators or owners of cabling and associated facilities inside buildings, or up to the first point of distribution outside the building, regardless of whether they are companies with significant market power. This will help to strengthen symmetric regulation, which applies to all operators.

3.4. ACCESS AND INTERCONNECTION

3.4.1. INTERCONNECTION

Companies providing electronic communications networks and services are free to negotiate and enter into interconnection agreements.

ANACOM has the authority to impose access and interconnection obligations on companies with or without significant market power, as long as they are objective, proportionate, transparent, and non-discriminatory. The regulator may impose, for example, access and interconnection obligations on companies that, due to their general authorisation status, control access to end-users.

3.4.2. REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS

The new law closely follows the EECC and maintains the regulatory obligations established by the previous legislation. However, the ECL also introduced new regulatory obligations that are more stringent and complex.

One example of this is the new law's emphasis on symmetric regulatory obligations’ measurement. This includes access obligations, such as access to cabling up to the first distribution point, and the power to impose access to civil engineering assets and national roaming. These new provisions are meant to provide more regulatory oversight and ensure fair competition in the market. However, the requirements for these regulatory obligations have become more stringent and have made these rules more complex to implement.

While these new rules may have been introduced to improve user protections, they may raise concerns regarding their implementation complexity.

3.4.3. NATIONAL ROAMING OBLIGATIONS

Following the EECC, the ECL introduces the concept of national roaming. This is viewed as an important regulatory mechanism to overcome physical or economic barriers in the provision of services and networks requiring on access through rights of use for radio spectrum frequencies (namely, mobile network providers) for end-users.

When access and sharing of passive infrastructure are not sufficient to ensure adequate coverage, the regulator may impose obligations for active infrastructure sharing or the obligation to conclude national roaming agreements. However, these obligations may only be imposed if certain requirements are met, such as the existence of insurmountable physical or economic hurdles that result in poor or non-existent access to end-users, such as building limitations in protected areas.

The recourse to this mechanism will only be justified when there is an insufficiency of access and sharing of passive infrastructure.

3.4.4. INTERNATIONAL ROAMING

International roaming is a service offered by early 2G mobile networks that allow customers of one operator to use their mobile devices on the networks of third-party operators in different countries. This service is essential and enables users to make and receive voice calls, send, and receive text and multimedia messages, or access the internet through their equipment. It is one of the most important factors that contributed to the global popularity of mobile services over GSM networks.

However, roaming costs traditionally are higher than those of the home network, as third-party operators are free to set their own fees for visiting users. Although in the European Economic Area, these costs have been decreasing due regulatory pressure, since to the implementation of the EU’s "Roam Like at Home" concept in 2017, international roaming users in the Union are charged the same tariffs as in their home network.

It's worth noting that international roaming is not regulated by the ECL, but by European regulations, specifically by Regulation (EU) 2022/612 of the European Parliament and the Council of 6 April 2022.

3.5. REGULATORY CONTROLS IN RETAIL MARKETS

The imposition of specific obligations appropriate to retail markets by ANACOM depends on:

  • Absence of effective competition; and
  • The imposition of further obligations would not meet the general aims of regulation.

The law aims to prevent excessive pricing by operators and that they discriminate end-users.

4. USERS' RIGHTS, UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ADDITIONAL MANDATORY SERVICES

4.1. END-USERS’ RIGHTS

Companies, including OTTs, offering networks or services are now, in their entirety, subject to the rules of end-user’s rights outlined in the ECL.

As an exception are the micro-entities number-independent one-to-one communications services, which although exempt from these regulations, must nonetheless inform end-users of this subject.

According to the ECL, in addition to end-users who are consumers, the rights apply to micro-entities, small enterprises, or non-profit organisations, if they have not waived their application.

Under the ECL all end-user is entitled to:

  • Have written information about the terms and conditions of access and use of services;
  • Be informed, at least 15 days in advance, of the operator intention to cease the provision of a specific service;
  • Have information about expected and provided service levels;
  • Receiving itemised billing, detailing, among other things, information about costs and the end of the minimum contractual period;
  • Increase protection in cases of express non-authorisation/contract;
  • Have access to pricing and other conditions tools;
  • Have an immediate and proportional reduction in the monthly fees in cases of failings in the quality of service, without prejudice to other compensation that may be due;
  • Continuous access to the contracted services, and information about the suspension of the service; and
  • Number portability.

Broadly speaking, the protection of end-users became a core aspect of the ECL. Paradoxically, in its attempt to empower users, the ECL seem to have taken a step too far while, at the same time, failing to provide adequate guidance, thus creating an unwelcomed and unexpected sense of uncertainty. As an example, under the ECL, operators are banned from unjustifiably discriminate against customers on the ground of nationality and place of residence; however, no guidelines on what may be construed as justifiable discrimination were provided. This is a sensitive matter that may lead to future litigation.

The ECL seeks to empower end-users by ensuring fair treatment in the market. The protection of end-users is a core aspect of the ECL. As part of the framework, these non-discrimination rules ensure that consumers have equal access to services and that companies cannot discriminate against users based on their nationality or domicile.

4.2. AGREEMENT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

The ECL strengthens the framework for the disclosure of pre-contractual information. Under the ECL, public communication providers and operators, except machine-to-machine service providers, are now required to make available to the consumer, before entry into an agreement, information (under the Consumer Protection Act) concerning its key aspects. Among other things, operators are required to disclose information on:

  • The main characteristics of the goods or services;
  • The identity of the provider, including, company name, postal address and telephone number and other contact information;
  • The total price of the services, including the fixed fees and applicable taxes, additional set-up charges, and other relevant charges, including those relating to maintenance; and
  • The price calculation method, in cases where, due to the nature of the service, the price cannot be calculated before the conclusion of the agreement.

The ECL also formalizes the obligation to adopt and make available the agreement summary template, making it considerably more detailed.

4.3. CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR CONTRACTING AND INVOICING

According to the ECL, the billing for publicly available electronic communications services must be done monthly, and the invoices for these services must be sent free of charge to the end user and include the following information:

  • The services provided and the corresponding prices;
  • The remaining term to complete the minimum contractual term obligations; and, when applicable,
  • The social tariff for providing broadband Internet access services and its application to consumers with low incomes or special social needs.

4.4. DURATION OF THE AGREEMENT

Due to the prevalence of bundled services (triple, quadruple and quintuple play, with implied discounts) particularly in the residential fixed-line market segments, local operators tend to waive set-up fees and replace them with minimum contract periods, which, if infringed, will give rise to steep early termination fees. Therefore, it is no wonder that minimum contract periods, is probably the most debated issue in consumer law.

However, the ECL still emphasised its continuity when it comes to minimum contract period and early termination charges, opting to make surgical changes such as clauses by introducing the concepts of initial and follow-up minimum contract period and capping them.

Therefore, operators offering publicly available communication services, are required to offer services without any customer lock in period, and the minimum contract period was limited to 24 months.

Furthermore, the subscription to supplementary services or terminal equipment by the consumer, may not be used to extend the initial contractual loyalty period, except when the consumer agrees to it at the time of subscription.

4.5. TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

Regarding contract termination, in its quest to protect consumers, the ECL introduced some significant deviations to general principles of law, particularly, on contract default and liability. While these are naturally restricted to specific contracts, they are nevertheless of interest.

According to the ECL, suspension of services to defaulting non-consumer end-users is allowed but subject to notice. It should be noted that in any case cutting off access to emergency services is not permitted.

For defaulting consumer end-users, a notice must be served for a grace period of at least 30 days comes into effect, after this period elapses, the operator is allowed to suspend the service for an additional 30 days. Once this second period elapses, and provided that certain notification requirements are met, the contract will be automatically terminated without further notice.

On the other hand, in cases of services unavailable for longer than 24 hours, the ECL imposes a proportional reduction of the bill regardless of any consumer's request. If the service remains unavailable for over 15 days, the end-user has the right to terminate the agreement without any cost.

Also in this case, the ECL established other specific causes for breach of agreement in addition to those previously mentioned.

One example of these new provisions is the fact that the ECL considers the existence of “significant discrepancy between the actual performance of the services and the performance indicated in the agreement” may serve as the basis for the end-user's demanding corrective measures, which are not defined, notwithstanding, its right to terminate the agreement without any penalty. Again, it will be interesting to see how the courts will apply these arguably vague concepts.

As mentioned above, the ECL introduced specific changes on the admissibility of minimum contract periods, along with the mentioned restrictions; the law has also restricted the early termination charges in case these lock-in periods are not complied with by the customer.

The ECL considers that a customer may be able to terminate its agreement with an operator without incurring any early termination charges if the consumer:

  • Changes their address, the company cannot demand additional charges if it cannot provide the contracted service or equivalent service in terms of characteristics and price at the new address; The consumer changes its permanent address and, cumulatively, the address is the primary location of the services provided by the operator, and the operator is unable to provide the same or an equivalent service at the new dwelling;
  • Loses their disposable monthly income due to unemployment through no fault of their own;
  • Is permanently or temporarily incapacitated for work or loses monthly income due to a long-term illness;
  • Migrates to a third country. For this purpose, emigration is defined as the unforeseeable move of the contract holder's permanent residence out of the national territory; or
  • Is absence from its residence due to imprisonment or by being dependent on the care provided by a third person.

Although the ECL sets these causes of breach of contract to protect particular cases in, what undoubtedly the legislator thought to be fair cases, the overuse of vague concepts such as “unforeseeable move (…) out of the national territory” or “loss of income due to illness” will not contribute to a peaceful application of the law soon.

4.6. UNIVERSAL SERVICE

The ECL has set these causes of breach of agreement with practical consequences to reinforce the protection of end-users and make the termination process fairer.

According to the ECL, universal service is a minimum set of services that must be available to all consumers at an affordable price in the national territory, considering specific national conditions. The aim is to prevent social exclusion resulting from lack of access and enable citizens to participate in social and economic life.

Universal service should ensure the availability of the following:

  • An adequate broadband internet access service at a fixed location;
  • Voice communications services, including the underlying connection, at a fixed location; and
  • Specific measures for consumers with disabilities to ensure equivalent access to services available to other users.

The ECL brings about some important changes to universal service, particularly promoting social regulation mainly through the so-called "social internet tariff".

4.7. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY SERVICES

According to the ECL, the government may make additional services available to the public within the national territory beyond those included in the universal service obligations. However, in those cases, a compensation mechanism involving specific companies should not be imposed.

5. TRANSPORT OBLIGATIONS AND EQUIPMENT

ANACOM may, for public interest reasons, impose signal transportation obligations on companies in the television and radio program services market and provide adequate compensation in return.

To comply with the ECL, digital television equipment used by consumers must be able to decode digital television signals and reproduce signals that have been broadcast without encryption, and providers must also facilitate the interoperability of equipment to encourage reuse.

Lastly, any activity involving illegal devices, including the manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, renting, installing, maintaining, promoting, acquiring, and using such devices, is considered a severe administrative infraction.

An illegal device is any equipment or software designed or adapted to allow unauthorised access to protected services in an intelligible form without the service provider's consent.

6. FEES, SUPERVISION AND CONTROL

6.1. RATES

Operators who offer communication networks and services under the general authorisation framework are subject to an annual fee. This fee is based on the administrative costs of managing, controlling, and enforcing the general authorisation framework, as well as the rights of use and specific conditions.

Additionally, operators are also responsible for paying fees related to the following:

  • The allocation and renewal of frequency rights;
  • The allocation, reservation, and renewal of numbering resource rights; and
  • The allocation of rights of way.

6.2. SUPERVISION AND CONTROL

6.2.1. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

To effectively carry out its responsibilities, ANACOM has the right to access and to require information from operators as it sees necessary, if it is deemed objectively justified, non-discriminatory and reasonable.

Specifically, companies must provide financial information as any additional information that ANACOM or other competent authorities may request, if counted as necessary and objectively justified, to ensure compliance with administrative charges, authorisation, and other specific obligations imposed on these companies. In general, operators must provide financial and technical information to guarantee compliance with administrative charges, authorisation and other specific obligations arising of the services operators are registered to provide.

6.2.2. CONTROL

As a regulator, ANACOM is responsible for supervising compliance with the ECL, the Portuguese Food and Economic Security Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica – “ASAE”) and the Portuguese Tax Authorities (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira). As a regulator, ANACOM is responsible for overseeing the electronic communications sector overall.

However, under the ECL and other applicable statutes, judicial courts, central Government agencies, such as the national cybersecurity agency (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança – “CNCS”) and other authorities and agencies also have some degree of jurisdiction over the sector. Among them, there are the above-mentioned ANEPC (the emergency and civil protection agency), the Food and Economic Security Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica – “ASAE”), the Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência – “AdC”), the Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira AT”) and the municipalities.

6.2.3. NEW SANCTIONING FRAMEWORK

The ECL has significantly expanded its sanctioning framework. It includes more than 120 administrative infractions, of which almost 97% are considered severe or very serious and can result in fines of up to one million or five million euros.

Figure 1 - Distribution of administrative offences foreseen in the ECL according to their seriousness.

Regarding compliance with the end-consumers rules, more than 40 applicable sanctions represent more than a third of the total number of the ECL’s administrative infractions.

Figure 2 - Distribution of sanctioning rules according to the subject (as a % of the total number of administrative offences provided for in the ECL).

Under the ECL, issuing guidelines, recommendations, or instructions to employees, agents, or business partners prone to result in a violation of rules or ANACOM's instructions is considered a severe administrative infraction.

As opposed to the initial version of the bill presented by the government in May 2022, the ECL does not provide for individual liability for members of management bodies and company directors.

Along with a long list of violations for which operators are liable, under the ECL, a severe or very serious administrative offence is committed whenever an operator issues its employees, agents, or business partners guidelines, recommendations, or instructions that are likely to result in a violation of rules or ANACOM's instructions.

It should be noted that this type of provision is uncommon in this context in Portuguese law. However, it should be noted that this provision seems to be a compromise in relation to the initial version of the bill submitted to Parliament, where the personal liability of company directors and senior staff of the operators was proposed. Considering the broad and ambiguous wording of these sanctioning provisions, it will be interesting to see how they will be applied.

7. OPEN INTERNET PRINCIPLE

The open internet principle guarantees that citizens of the European Union have unrestricted access to online content and services, regardless of location or time, without any form of discrimination or interference from internet service providers.

This is reflected in Portuguese law through the ECL, which states that any actions taken to maintain the quality of internet access must comply with Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 25 November 2015.

The principle of an open internet is crucial today, where information is readily available through the internet. This principle is essential to guarantee that individuals and companies have unrestricted access to online content and services.

For example, internet service providers are prohibited to block or slow down their competitors’ content, applications, or services, except in limited cases, such as network security and integrity. Under this principle, e.g., internet providers must prevent unjustifiable blocking or slowing down content, applications, or services, except in limited cases, such as to maintain network security and integrity. Similarly, service providers are inhibited from prioritising traffic on their networks based on payment from a particular source. At the same time, they are required to provide equal access to online content and services without interference from the interests of internet service providers.

2023-01-31

A public hearing for the proposal of the areas dedicated to installing offshore electricity renewable generation plants opened last January 27th (Order 1396-C/2023). It follows the Portuguese government's recent announcement that an auction for offshore wind energy production would be launched by the end of September.

The proposal (a Portuguese language version can be found here) subject to public hearing until March 10th, comprises the following areas: Largo de Leixões, Figueira da Foz, Ericeira and Sintra-Cascais, Sines and Viana do Castelo (through an extension of the existing pilot area).

These territories comprise 3,393.44 km2 of national maritime space, occupying roughly 5.9% of the space between the coast and the territorial sea's outer boundary and 0.71% of the EEZ, respectively.

The locations in depth from around 75 meters to 200 meters and hence call for the construction of floating structures fastened to the seabed, have a total installable power of 10 GW and are as follows:

Profundidades ente cerca de 75 m e cerca de 200 m
PROPOSED AREAS AREAS (KM2) POWER (GW)
Viana do Castelo 663,00 2,0
Leixões 463,36 1,5
Figueira da Foz 1237,29 4,0
Ericeira 256,84 1,0
Sines 498,66 1,5
Total 3209,9 10

 

The locations with a maximum depth of 50 meters – allowing the installation of fixed structures on the seabed – add up to an installable power of roughly 1 GW:

Depths up to 50m
PROPOSED AREAS AREAS (KM2) POWER (GW)
Matosinhos 180,90 0,995
Port of Sines jurisdiction area 9,64 0,005
Total 200,54 1

 

These areas will be relevant for the Offshore Renewable Energy Allocation Plan and they will be integrated into the National Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan (PSOEM), which is being drafted in accordance with Order 12020/2021 of the 7th of December.

These are the onshore connection points to the national grid (RNT) highlighted in the report:

AREAS

LOCATION

Viana do Castelo

Between Ponte de Lima and Vila Nova de Famalicão substations

Leixões

In the area around the Feira substation (Santa Maria da Feira) along the 400 kV Lavos-Feira/Paraimo-Recarei north-south axis

Figueira da Foz

North of Lavos substation (Figueira da Foz), along the Lavos-Feira/Paraimo-Recarei axis, including the future Lares cut-off pole, up to the zone of the Paraimo substation (Anadia), and, south of Lavos substation, up to the area of the RNT north of Leiria

Ericeira

From the north-east area of the Carvoeira substation (Torres Vedras) to the area surrounding the Alto da Mira substation (Amadora)

Sines

Within the area of influence of Sines (Santiago do Cacém) substation

 

Additionally, on January 27th, Notice 1976-A/2023 extended for an additional 10 days the deadline to comment on the proposed order defining the technological free zone for renewable energies with maritime origin or placement off the coast of Viana do Castelo.

2022-11-03

Despite this growth, the wind energy potential in Portugal is far from exhausted, and offshore wind energy has the possibility to contribute to the National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC2030) and to the Carbon Neutrality Roadmap (2020-2050).

Recently, the Government has committed to achieve the production of energy through renewable sources by 80% in the end of 2026 (four years earlier that the goal set out in the PNEC2023).

As a result, the Government established, on late 23rd September, a Task Force for the planning and operationalization of electro-producing centers based on renewable energy sources of oceanic origin. This working group must produce a report, until  May 31, 2023, containing a set of proposals covering several issues raised regarding this type of energy production, such as: mapping the most suitable locations; the titles of private use of maritime space model; the technical and investment model for the development of electrical infrastructure in offshore.

An offshore wind auction is expected tb be launched in later 2023 for the installation of 10 GW of capacity.  Considering that in Portugal the production of hydroelectric power and onshore wind represent 7.3 GW and 5.6 GW respectively, we can better understand the meaning and dimension of this auction.

LICENSING GENERAL RULES

In general, the production of electricity is submitted to a prior control system under the following terms:

  • Production and Exploration License: production and self-storage with installed capacity over 1 MW, or if it is submitted to an EIA or environmental incidences assessment procedure.

  • Previous Registration and Operation Certificate: production with installed capacity higher than 30 kW and equal to or less than 1 MW and self-storage with installed capacity lower than 1 MW.

  • Prior Communication: production with installed capacity higher than 700 kW and equal to or less than 30 kW.

  • Production projects with installed capacity equal to or less than 700 W are exempt from prior control.

The emission of the Production License depends on the previous attribution of a reserve title of injection capacity at the RESP ("TRC"). 

The TRC can be obtained through one of the following three modalities:

  • General Access: This applies if there is reception capacity at the RESP. It is dependent on the payment of a deposit to DGEG in the amount of EUR10,000.00/MVA for a minimum period of 30 months, or until the power station and/or storage facility comes into operation.

  • Agreement with the operator of the RESP: This applies if there is no reception capacity at the RESP and the maximum annual injection capacity at the RESP has been defined by Government order, to be allocated in this modality until January 15 of each year. Conditioned to the payment of a security deposit to the operator of the RESP in the amount of EUR15,000.00/MVA for a minimum period of 24 months. After the agreement is signed, the deposit is returned and it is mandatory to provide a new deposit to DGEG under the terms of the General Access.

  • Competitive Procedure: This applies if the Government has determined that a competitive procedure for the award of the TRC should be opened. The terms and conditions of the award of the TRC and of the provision of the guarantee are set out in the pieces of the procedure.

LICENSING STEPS

The installation of a electricity producer follows a licensing process with several steps, as follows:

  • Environmental analysis: projects with an installed capacity of more than 50 MW, or more than 20 MW but located in sensitive areas are submitted to EIA, or to an environmental incidences analysis procedure when, regardless of the installed capacity, they are located in sensitive areas.

  • Production License (installed capacity over 1 MW): The process is instructed with the elements mentioned in Annex I of DL 15/2022.

  • Prior Registration (production with installed capacity higher than 30 kW and equal to or less than 1 MW with installed capacity lower than 1 MW): The process is instructed with elements referred to in DGEG Order 6/2020 of February

  • Municipal control: Construction of power generation centers or storage facilities are dependent on obtaining a building permit or a prior communication. Exempt from municipal control the installation of photovoltaic panels that do not exceed the roof area of buildings and the height of the building by 1m.

  • Connection to the RESP: Connection of the RESP connected infrastructures built at the promoter's expense. The promoters may request expropriation for public utility, as well as request the constitution of easements on the properties required for the installation of the electricity infrastructure that will be an integral part of the RESP.

  • Exploration License: Must be requested within one year from the date of the issue of the Production License, with the possibility of extension, once only, for another year.

  • Exploration Certificate: must be requested within nine months from the date of issue of the Previous Registration, with the possibility of extension, for a single time, for another half of the initial period.

MARITIME SPACE PLANNING
 

Law No. 17/2014, of April 10, establishes the bases of the National Maritime Space Planning and Management Policy, and determine that the planning of the national maritime space is carried out through:

Situation plans for one or more areas and or volumes of areas of the national maritime space, with the identification of places for the protection and preservation of the marine environment and the spatial and temporal distribution of current and potential uses and activities;?

Plans for the allocation of areas and/or volumes of national maritime space zones to different uses and activities.

In turn, the same law states that maritime space is, as a rule, for common use and enjoyment; however, its private use may be admissible "by reserving an area or volume for an environmental or marine resource use or ecosystem services that is greater than that obtained through common use and that results in an advantage to the public interest".

The private use is developed under a title of private use of maritime space ("TUPEM").

The law also expressly provides that the award of a TUPEM "does not grant its holder the right to use or exploit maritime space resources", and is also subject to a concession, which may have a maximum duration of 50 years, and is awarded by the respective concession contract.

MARITIME SPACE PLANS

DL 38/2015, of March 12 develop the Basis, which, together with the legal scheme for territorial management instruments, establishes the articulation and compatibility of territorial programs and plans with national maritime space management plans.

Specifically, in accordance with DL 38/2015, the Situation Plan represents and identifies the space and time distribution of existing and potential uses and activities in the national maritime space, considering those that are being developed under a TUPEM. Its material content includes, among other elements, energy resources and renewable energy.

The Situation Plan was approved by Council of Ministers Resolution no. 203-A/2019, of December 30, 

In turn, the allocation plans allocate areas or volumes of national maritime space to uses and activities not identified in the Status Plan, establishing, where applicable, the respective parameters of use.

Allocation plans may be initiated by public initiative (similar to the situation plan), but also by private initiative.

Those who are interested in the preparation of an allocation plan may submit to the member of the Government responsible for the area of the sea a proposal for a planning contract that has as its object the preparation of an allocation plan, which must contain the objectives and rationale for its preparation, as well as the geo-spatial representation with the identification of the spatial and temporal distribution of uses and activities to be developed. 

Once the contract for land use planning is signed, the interested party prepares and completes the land use plan project. 

The final version of the allocation plan is submitted to the government for approval by resolution of the Council of Ministers.

Whenever the allocation plan has been prepared by a private entity, by means of a development contract, with the approval of the allocation plan the interested party is awarded the corresponding title for private use of the national maritime space. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

The environmental assessment aims to identify and evaluate “any significant effects on the environment resulting from a plan or program” and is materialized, namely, in the preparation of an “environmental report”, as determined by the Plan and Program Assessment Regime approved by Decree-Law no. 232/2007, of June 15.

With regard to maritime spatial plans, and as already mentioned, according to the Situation Plan, Portugal has a pilot area off Viana do Castelo for the installation of renewable energy, with the installation of the WindFloat Atlantic Offshore Wind Power Plant already planned. 

Thus, if it is intended to install the offshore wind power plant outside the pilot area, the process of obtaining the title of use will necessarily have to be preceded by the approval of an allocation plan for the projected area of the installation.

In this regard, Law 38/2015, specifically in its article 23, for the purposes of applying the scheme for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA Decree-Law), approved by Decree-Law 151-B/2013 of 31 October, compares the allocation plan to a project. 

As a result, it is in the EIA Decree-Law that we will find the answer to the legal need/requirement to subject the plan/project to environmental impact assessment, which, where applicable, should always take into account the environmental report that accompanied the environmental assessment of the situation plan.

A wind farm project is subject to EIA if:

  1. Reaches the thresholds provided for in the EIA Decree-Law; or
  2. It is located, even partially, in a sensitive area and the EIA authority understands that it is likely to cause significant impact, in accordance with no. 6 of art. 3; or
  3. Not reaching the thresholds and not being located in a sensitive area, the EIA authority understands that it is likely to cause significant impact, under the terms of art. 3.

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