Here is what to remember at 5 p.m. from the situation in Spain, Portugal and the South of France:
◾ A massive power cut occurred around 12:30 p.m. in the Iberian Peninsula. It affects the entire territory, disturbing air traffic and paralyzing rail traffic in Spain. The Spanish administrator of railway infrastructure (ADIF) announced on X an “interruption of rail traffic across the network”.
◾ In Spain, Red Electrica assured having deployed “all the resources to remedy” the breakdown, while believing that his teams needed “between 6 to 10 am” to restore the situation “if all is well”. Some supply points are already repaired, “said Eduardo Prieto, an electricity Network Manager in Spain on Cadena Ser.
◾ “We cannot speculate for the moment on the causes” of the breakdown, said Eduardo Pieto, while rumors report a cyber attack. The European Union nevertheless pointed out that there was “no indication of a cyber attack at this stage”. “Everything will be” analyzed with the level of detail required “as soon as possible” to shed light “on the origin of the cut, underlined Eduardo Prieto.
◾ Spanish nuclear power plants have been stopped, a normal safety procedure in the event of an electricity cut.
◾ In Portugal, the manager of the national electricity network (REN), said that it was “impossible to predict when the situation returns to normal”. “All stages reinstatement plans of the energy supply have been activated, in coordination with European energy producers and operators,” said Ren in a statement sent to AFP.
◾ In France, the electricity failure affected the Basque Country and was short -lived, the French manager of the network announcing having restored the energy supply. RTE said that its teams have mobilized to assist the Spanish network manager, and have already realized for 700 MW of consumption via France.
