Photovoltaic magazine reported on November 7 that Portuguese police raided the residence of Prime Minister Antonio Costa on the same day as part of a corruption investigation involving lithium and hydrogen. In addition, Duarte Cordeiro, the country's minister of climate action and infrastructure, and Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes were declared official suspects.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa
Portuguese police raided the residence of Prime Minister Antonio Costa on the same day as part of a corruption investigation involving renewable energy.
Police also searched the homes of Portugal's Climate Action Minister Duarte Cordeiro and Infrastructure Minister Joao Pedro Matos Fernandi. Cordeiro, Fernandez and Cordeiro's predecessor, Joao Garamba, have been declared official suspects. Police detained V Vítor Esc Escária, the prime minister's chief of staff, and his adviser Lacerda Machado, local
Portuguese media reported. The mayor of Sines, Nuno Mascarenhas, was also detained.
Police searched more than 40 homes, involving more than 140 officers.
According to investigators, the Portuguese government may be biased towards the lithium mining project of Portuguese companies in Monte Alegre, northern Portugal, and the green hydrogen production project in Sines, western Portugal.
According to Portuguese newspaper Publico, anonymous tip-offs in 2019 showed that Portuguese companies EDP, Galp and REN received preferential treatment in developing lithium mines and green hydrogen projects.
In addition, Antonio Costa resigned as prime minister after a number of high-profile arrests.