Red Eléctrica is looking for specific information regarding the causes that could have led to a massive blackout in Spain and Portugal from around 12.30 a.m.
Eduardo Prieto, Director of Operation Services of Red Eléctrica, has informed that the blackout was due to a “very strong oscillation of the power flow of networks”. The origin of this is still unknown, but it has led to the systematic disconnection of the networks.
Red Eléctrica estimates that the total recovery of the Spanish electricity system could take “between 6 and 10 hours” from the start of the massive incident.
“We have conscientiously prepared plans for this type of situation.”the director of Red Eléctrica Services assured, admitting that this is something “absolutely exceptional”.
As for the possibility that the massive blackout may be due to a cyber-attack, Eduardo Prieto preferred “not to speculate” on the matter.
It had been the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno who had suggested that the blackout could have been caused, specifically by a cyber-attack. Information on which the Government does not want to speculate, and which is compiling all the information together with those responsible for Red Eléctrica.
Security Council meeting
Pedro Sánchez, President of the Spanish Government, attended a crisis meeting at the Red Eléctrica control center to try to find out the origin of the incident that has led to chaos in the country. The meeting was attended by the Vice-Presidents María Jesús Montero and the Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen. In addition, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, the Minister of Health, Mónica García, and the Minister of Digital Transformation, Óscar López, have also been summoned to the meeting.
Subsequently, Sánchez called an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, which has been held since 3 p.m. at the Moncloa Palace. It so happens that a week ago, during a meeting at the Zarzuela Palace with the King, the drafting of a new National Security Strategy was approved.
In parallel, the European Commission (EC) is in contact with the Spanish and Portuguese authorities, as well as with Red Eléctrica, to assist in the investigation of the causes of the power outage. “The Commission will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that there is a smooth exchange of information between all relevant parties,” a spokesman assured, reports Efe news agency.
Meanwhile, Teresa Ribera, Vice President of the Community Executive for Clean Transition and responsible for Competition, insisted on not speculating on the reasons for the power outage, in addition to claiming “maximum caution”. “At the moment there is nothing that allows us to affirm that there has been some kind of boycott or cyber attack“.
“Europe’s electricity system operators are working to see what has happened and to provide support in restoring the system in the Iberian Peninsula,” he added, while asking for “patience” from the public.
Atmospheric phenomenon
The Portuguese electricity grid operator, REN, offered its own version. REN, as reported by Reuters, assured that “a rare atmospheric phenomenon in Spain due to extreme temperature variations in the interior of the country” caused the power outages throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The phenomenon is known as “induced atmospheric vibration”. And according to the Portuguese operator, it could take a week to restore full power supply.
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