IAEA confirms safety of Spanish nuclear power plants following blackout

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that the safety of Spain's nuclear power plants was not compromised following a major blackout that affected the country's power grid.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, assured the public that the situation remains stable and under control, Caliber.Az reports.

"The IAEA confirmed with Spain’s Nuclear Regulator that the situation is stable and under control, with no impact on nuclear safety or security. Some nuclear power plants are using backup off-site power and are gradually restoring external supply,” Grossi posted on his X account.

The blackout, which resulted in the temporary shutdown of several nuclear power plants, was a precautionary measure, ensuring that all safety protocols were followed. It was noted that some of the plants utilize external backup electricity sources to ensure continued safe operation in the event of grid failures.

Reports from Spanish media outlet El Pais indicated that power generation at the country's nuclear plants was halted due to the widespread power outage, but no safety issues arose as a result of the event. Spain operates a total of five nuclear power plants, all of which were affected by the disruption.

The blackouts, which began around 12:15 pm (GMT+2), have severely affected nearly all of Spain and Portugal, with additional reports indicating disruptions in parts of France, Andorra, and Belgium. In Madrid and Lisbon, several metro and rail passengers were left stranded, while international airports in both cities, along with others across the Iberian Peninsula, were forced to close.

“Power restoration plans have been activated in collaboration with industry companies following the power outage on the [Iberian] peninsula,” Red Electrica stated.

Speculation surrounding the cause of the blackouts includes concerns over Spain’s integration of renewable energy into the European power grid. While some critics suggest this may have triggered the blackout, the exact cause remains unclear.

Red Electrica had reported that renewable energy sources met Spain's electricity demand for the first time ever, as part of the country’s “ecological transition.” Further theories point to a potential cyber attack, especially in light of increased threats to Europe’s energy grid following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

By Vafa Guliyeva