According to Zero - Sustainable Earth System Association, which used data from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) to rank the most polluting companies in Portugal in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Galp's Sines refinery remained at the top of the top 10 in 2023, with around 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 released into the atmosphere, despite an 11% reduction in emissions compared to 2022.


"Galp's intention to revise (initially downwards) its decarbonisation targets due to the discovery of oil in Namibia and the slower implementation of renewable energy projects is particularly worrying", Zero said in a statement.

Across the top 10 polluters, there was a 14% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2023, compared to 2022, totalling around 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 emitted.

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas, causing global warming.

In 2023, TAP was the company that increased its CO2 emissions the most (15%), moving up to third place in the ranking (in 2022 it was in sixth place), with 1.1 million tonnes emitted.

In the case of the national airline, only emissions made on flights between airports in the European Union and Switzerland are included in the accounting.

EDP's Lares thermoelectric plant recorded the most significant drop in emissions, of 50% compared to the previous year, but still remained in ninth place, with 365.2 thousand tonnes of CO2 emitted.

The 'top 10' also includes the cement companies Cimpor (Alhandra and Souselas), Secil (Outão) and CMP (Maceira-Liz), the energy producers Turbogás (Tapada do Outeiro plant) and Elecgás (Pego plant) and the lime producer Lusical.