José Sena Goulão / Lusa
Former Minister of Infrastructure João Galamba
Industry sources describe Galamba as a “doer”, someone who masters the dossiers, decides quickly and maintains influence in the energy debate.
António Costa’s former Minister of Infrastructure and former Secretary of State for Energy João Galamba is considered the favorite for the leadership of the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN).
According to , the choice of Pedro Amaral Jorge’s successor should be finalized soon, after the association has hired a headhunter specialized to identify candidates according to previously defined criteria.
In addition to Galamba, the name of Nelson Lagecurrent president of the Energy Agency (). Both receive sympathy in the sectorbut, according to Nascer do Sol, the preference of the main operators falls on the former socialist ruler.
Industry Sources describe him as a “doer”someone who dominates the dossiers, decide quickly and maintain influence in the energy debate, where he remains active, namely through interventions on LinkedIn.
The final decision will be up to the direction of APRENmade up of 17 elements. The voting system is proportional to installed powerbut there is a limit beyond which the installed capacity stops translating into additional votes in the General Assembly.
Pedro Amaral Jorgewho will assume the leadership of , within the framework of the Iberian electricity trading platforms, leaves the presidency after eight years at the head of the association, which represents producers of renewable electricity (wind, solar, hydro or biomass) with the Government, ERSE and international institutions.
João Galamba is one of the PS’s most intense and divisive figures of the last decade. Economist, born in Lisbon in 1976, was a deputy, commentator and member of the generation of so-called socialist “Young Turks”before entering the Government of António Costa.
In Energy, he won reputation as a technically prepared ruler and politically combative; in Infrastructures, became the protagonist of a succession of crises that would eventually mark his end in the Executive.
The name of the former ruler remained associated with the “TAP dossier”in particular between the company, the Government and PS deputies before a parliamentary hearing, as well as the case of former deputy Frederico Pinheiro, which involved accusations about internal notes, aea .
Months later, in November 2023, Galamba was accused of Operation Influencer, a process linked to lithium, green hydrogen and the Sines data center projects.
Upon his departure, he then said, did not represent an admission of guilt.
