Portugal’s environment ministry has confirmed that the cost of construction work on the Porto Metro’s Pink and Yellow lines has increased by 29% and 30% respectively, about €84 million, according to a response from the ministry to PSD MP Firmino Pereira. The initial cost of the contracts was €98.9 million. The ministry explains “the increase in costs stems from the exceptional situation in the supply chains resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the global energy crisis and the effects of the war in Ukraine,” which “have caused significant increases in the prices of raw materials and labour, particularly in the construction sector”. The excess can be found from within the State Budget, “without prejudice to the allocation of funds resulting from available financial resources from other funding sources” the ministry adds.
