Miguel Nogueira de Brito and Jorge Pação analyse public domain duties in hydropower concessions

Miguel Nogueira de Brito and Jorge Pação are the authors of the article "As concessões de uso privativo do domínio público hídrico para produção de energia hidroelétrica: o problema da imputação e da delimitação geográfica dos deveres dominiais", published in the latest issue of the Revista de Direito Administrativo (No. 26, May-August 2026).

The article examines a key issue relating to the management and use of the public water domain: the identification of the entities responsible for complying with public domain duties and the geographical scope of those obligations in the context of hydropower concessions.

Drawing on the legal framework governing the public water domain and public utility reservoirs, the authors analyse the functional and material scope of such concessions and the criteria for allocating duties relating to the administration, maintenance, supervision and enhancement of public domain assets.

The publication contributes to the ongoing legal debate surrounding the management of water resources and the regulatory framework applicable to hydropower concessions, addressing issues of practical relevance for public authorities, concessionaires and energy sector operators.