Iberian Blackout not caused by Cyberattack, say Grid Operators

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, April 29th, 2025

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OVIEDO, Spain April 29, 2025. The massive power outage that affected most of Spain and Portugal on Monday was not the result of a cyberattack, according to Spain’s national grid operator, Red Eléctrica.
Eduardo Prieto, head of system operations at Red Eléctrica, confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that no cyber intrusions were detected within the grid’s control center. “We have been able to conclude that there was no intrusion in the grid’s control center,” Prieto stated.
The blackout, which began at 12:33 p.m. local time on Monday, disrupted transportation systems, communication networks, and essential services across both Spain and Portugal. By midnight, 90% of Spain’s power had been restored, and by Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that 99.95% of the country’s electricity supply had been recovered.
While the cause of the blackout is still under investigation, Prieto indicated that the incident originated in southwestern Spain, a region with significant solar power generation. He noted that the sudden loss of generation from this area caused a destabilization of the power grid, which led to its disconnection from the French grid. Prieto stated that although it’s “very possible” that solar generation played a role, it’s too early to confirm the exact cause.
During the blackout, there were no major security incidents, but the outage caused significant disruptions. Thousands of people were stranded in trains and elevators, and major cities like Madrid experienced severe traffic jams due to non-functioning traffic lights. Businesses were also heavily impacted, with many forced to halt production and services.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency in several regions, though some are lifting the measures as power has been restored. Investigations continue as officials seek to determine the root cause and implement preventive measures.