EU to Investigate Unprecedented Iberian Blackout as Spain Probes Possible Sabotage
A massive power outage across Spain and Portugal prompts EU action and raises questions about infrastructure vulnerabilities.On April 29, 2025, the European Commission announced it would conduct a thorough investigation into the massive blackout that paralyzed the Iberian Peninsula a day earlier, labeling it an incident of “unprecedented magnitude.” The outage, which affected most of Spain and Portugal, disrupted daily life, halted transportation, and forced hospitals to suspend routine operations. While the EU aims to learn lessons from the event, Spain’s top criminal court has opened a probe into whether the blackout resulted from “computer sabotage on critical infrastructure,” even as initial reports from both countries downplay the likelihood of a cyberattack.
EU Response: A Call for Investigation and Better Connectivity
The European Commission, led by Chief Spokeswoman Paula Pinho, pledged to work closely with national electricity grid operators to examine the outage’s causes, assess the EU’s preparedness, and identify lessons for the future. “We will look very closely into the reasons for the outage and what can be drawn from such an incident,” Pinho said, though the Commission refrained from speculating on the cause. An unnamed EU official classified the blackout as a “major” level 3 electrical incident—the highest severity level in the EU—and confirmed that a panel would have six months to investigate and deliver a report.The EU is also pushing for stronger electricity interconnections between Spain, Portugal, and the rest of continental Europe. “Having a more interconnected system in the EU is better for everyone, for market integration, for security of supply,” the official stated, highlighting the need to bolster resilience against such disruptions.
Spain Investigates Potential Sabotage
Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, the country’s top criminal court, launched an investigation into the blackout, citing the possibility of “cyberterrorism” as a potential cause. The court described the incident as a “critical situation” for the population, necessitating a probe into whether it was an act of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. This development contrasts with earlier statements from Spain’s grid operator REE and Portugal’s government, both of which ruled out a cyberattack. REE’s System Operations Chief Eduardo Prieto said the electricity system was now stable, while Portugal’s government spokesman Antonio Leitao Amaro noted, “We have no information related to a cyberattack or a hostile act at this stage.”Despite these assurances, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed he had discussed the incident with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, fueling speculation of external involvement. Sanchez reported a staggering loss of 15GW of electricity generation in just five seconds—equivalent to 60% of Spain’s national demand—describing it as “something that has never happened before.”
Conflicting Theories on the Cause
The exact cause of the blackout remains unclear, with differing accounts from Spain and Portugal. Spain’s REE pointed to a connection failure with France as the trigger, explaining that the loss of power exceeded what European systems were designed to handle, causing a disconnection of the Spanish and French grids and a subsequent collapse of Spain’s electric system. Parts of France also experienced a brief outage, prompting French grid operator RTE to supply power to northern Spain in the aftermath.Portugal, however, suggested the issue originated within Spain’s power transmission network. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated there was “no indication” of a cyberattack, while REN board member Joao Conceicao speculated about a “very large oscillation in electrical voltage” in Spain that spread to Portugal. “There could be a thousand and one causes,” Conceicao cautioned, urging restraint in pinpointing the reason.
Widespread Disruption Across the Peninsula
The blackout, which began around 12:30 p.m. local time on April 28, 2025, brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill. In Spain, the Interior Ministry declared a national emergency, deploying 30,000 police to maintain order as both governments held emergency cabinet meetings. Power began returning to areas like the Basque Country, Barcelona, and Madrid by the evening, while Portugal’s grid operator REN restored all power substations before midnight, normalizing supply for its 6.4 million electricity clients.The outage’s impact was far-reaching. Hospitals in Madrid and Catalonia suspended routine operations, relying on backup generators to treat critical patients. Public transportation ground to a halt, with trains canceled, metros closed in Lisbon and Porto, and traffic lights failing across both countries. In Spain, 35,000 train passengers were rescued, though 11 trains remained stranded in remote areas. Oil refineries shut down, and retailers like Lidl and IKEA closed their doors. The Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended, and images from Madrid showed long supermarket queues as residents stocked up on essentials.
The Bank of Spain reported that electronic banking functioned on backup systems, though some ATMs went offline. Internet traffic plummeted by 90% in Portugal and 80% in Spain, according to Cloudflare Radar. In Madrid, traffic jams clogged the city center as volunteers in reflective vests directed vehicles at intersections, while some residents were trapped in stalled metro cars and elevators. Many Spaniards turned the crisis into an impromptu social event, gathering in streets or cooking by candlelight.
Broader Implications and Historical Context
Power outages of this scale are rare in Europe. Historical precedents include a 2003 blackout in Italy, caused by a hydroelectric line failure with Switzerland, which lasted 12 hours, and a 2006 incident in Germany that affected parts of Europe and Morocco due to an overloaded network. Spain relies heavily on renewable energy—43% from wind and solar, 20% from nuclear, and 23% from fossil fuels, per the energy think tank Ember—making grid stability a critical concern.The outage’s ripple effects extended beyond the Iberian Peninsula. In Greenland, remote settlements lost access to satellite services, including internet and telephones, after Spain-based equipment failed. Greenland’s telecom company Tusass is investigating whether the blackout is to blame, though the number of affected residents remains unclear.
