"The country has made significant progress in reducing its dependence on Russian energy, although further efforts are still needed, as Portugal continues, to some extent, to import energy from Russia," says the EU executive.

In a chapter on Portugal in its annual report on the state of energy, the EU executive adds that "Portugal has strengthened the security of its gas supply, limited its dependence on energy imports and increased the share of renewable energies in its energy mix."

With the tightening of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia, imposing a total ban on Russian LNG imports from January 1, 2027, Portugal is one of eight member states that will have to find alternatives.

The country still imports LNG from Russia, although in relatively small proportions.

In 2024, Portugal imported approximately 49,141 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of natural gas, of which approximately 96% was LNG. Of the total LNG, about 4.4% originated in Russia.

The Russian share of LNG imports in Portugal fell from about 15% in 2021 to 5% in 2024.

In the report, the European Commission says that, "in the gas sector, in particular, Portugal achieved a substantial reduction in imports compared to the period before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine".

Specifically, Portuguese imports of LNG from Russia decreased from 0.740 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 0.233 billion cubic meters in 2024. This reduction results from Portugal's intensified efforts to diversify its energy supply, focusing on prioritizing LNG imports from alternative sources, such as the United States and Nigeria," the European Commission states.