Spain, Portugal team up to probe historic power outage

The governments of Spain and Portugal have formed a joint task force to investigate the cause of a massive power grid failure that severely disrupted both countries on April 28.

The task force, jointly headed by the energy and environment ministers of Spain and Portugal, aims to determine the origin of the unprecedented outage and prevent similar incidents in the future, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Spain suffered one of the most extensive power failures in its history, with traffic systems paralysed, train passengers stranded, and critical services—including hospitals and public transportation—facing significant disruption.

Telecommunications networks, including mobile and internet services, were also impacted. The blackout, which lasted for several hours, spilled over into Portugal, causing similar disturbances.

On April 28, 2025, a massive and unprecedented power outage hit Spain, Portugal, and parts of southwestern France, plunging millions into darkness and causing widespread disruptions across the Iberian Peninsula.

The blackout began around 12:33 p.m. (GMT+2), affecting major cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Critical services were disrupted, including public transport systems such as metros and high-speed trains, leaving passengers stranded. Traffic lights went out, resulting in severe congestion that was managed manually by police and locals. Hospitals relied on backup generators, and businesses, including major retailers like Zara, either closed or operated without power. ATMs and electronic payment systems were down, forcing some stores to extend credit to regular customers or shut down completely.

The outage also caused significant disruptions to major events, such as the suspension of the Madrid Open tennis tournament. Airports faced delays, and oil refineries, including those operated by Moeve and Petronor, ceased operations.

By Naila Huseynova