Porto, July 30, 2025 (Lusa) – The Sociedade de Transportes Coletivos do Porto (STCP) has announced an international public tender worth 25.8 million euros for the acquisition of 50 articulated natural gas or biomethane buses, with an option for 10 additional units.
“The STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Coletivos do Porto) launched this international public tender on Wednesday, July 30, for the purchase of 50 articulated buses, with the option to acquire an additional 10 vehicles,” stated a communication released today.
This investment aims to enable the transport company to “replace the current 49 articulated buses (20 diesel and 29 compressed natural gas), continuing the fleet renewal and ensuring a more environmentally and economically efficient public service,” it mentions.
The transport company’s goal is “to eliminate buses with combustion engines and replace natural gas buses whose tanks are nearing their end of life.”
“Delivery of the new 50 articulated natural gas buses is expected by the end of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027. After the last vehicle is delivered, STCP will have a year to decide on purchasing the 10 optional buses under the same contractual terms,” it further indicates.
Cristina Pimentel, president of STCP, remarked, “this investment represents another firm step in STCP’s decarbonization strategy and its commitment to more sustainable mobility for the Porto Metropolitan Area.”
Currently, STCP’s fleet consists of 444 buses, of which 75% (332 vehicles) use compressed natural gas (30% of which are already powered by biomethane), 15% (68 vehicles) are electric, and 10% (44 vehicles) run on diesel.
The company aims to “completely eliminate diesel vehicles by 2027 and, by 2028, achieve a fleet composed of 60% natural gas vehicles and 40% electric,” according to the statement.
STCP provides exclusive road public transport in Porto Municipality and operates under a general concession regime in the neighboring municipalities of Gondomar, Matosinhos, Maia, Valongo, and Vila Nova de Gaia.
The Porto municipality holds a majority share (53.69%) in the intermunicipal company, with the remaining shares divided among the five other municipalities in which STCP operates: Vila Nova de Gaia holds 12.04%, Matosinhos 11.98%, Maia 9.61%, Gondomar 7.28%, and Valongo 5.40%.
