Massive Power Outage: Portugal Points to Extreme Temperature Variations in Spain

As a massive power outage partially paralyzes Portugal and Spain, the first hypotheses regarding its cause are beginning to emerge. According to Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, quoted by El País, the failure originated from the Spanish grid. The leader cited initial findings from the Portuguese grid operator REN, which mentioned the possible impact of “extreme temperature variations” that may have destabilized the peninsula’s electrical infrastructure.

A Gradual but Uncertain Recovery

On the Spanish side, authorities remain cautious. The Spanish grid operator REE reported that power is gradually being restored in several areas in the North, South, and West of the country. “Voltage has been restored in key substations, allowing the re-supply of certain regions,” REE said in a statement. However, the operator warned that full restoration of the grid could take “up to a week,” given the complexity of the situation.

A Thorough Investigation Expected

When questioned about the precise cause of the outage, Eduardo Prieto, a senior official at REE, urged caution. “We cannot speculate at this point,” he said, promising a detailed technical analysis to “fully clarify” the incident. For now, no hypothesis has been officially ruled out, although European Council President António Costa sought to reassure the public by stating on X that there was “no indication of a cyberattack.”

The investigation is expected to be complex, against a backdrop of extreme weather conditions that, according to some experts, are putting severe strain on Southern Europe’s energy infrastructure.