UPDATE 2 - Electricity nearly restored across Spain, Portugal after major blackout

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER; EDITS THROUGHOUT; REVISES DECK

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Power was restored across most of Spain and Portugal on Tuesday after a major blackout on Monday.

“99.95% of demand has been restored,” Spanish energy provider Red Electrica announced on Tuesday on X, as they continue to “fully normalize” the system.

Portuguese electricity distribution network operator E-Redes also affirmed on Tuesday that the service has been fully restored and normalized, according to Publico.

The Spanish Transport Ministry announced on X that all airports are “operational,” while in Portugal, Lisbon Airport still has several flights canceled, Publico reported.

Portuguese Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz said that airport activity would return to normal in two to three days, speaking to the Now channel, according to Publico.

“Yesterday there were practically no flights and they were backed up with today's flights. And so it will take two or three days to get the airport back to normal," he said.

Telecommunications interrupted during the blackout are also reported to be recovering in both Spain and Portugal.

-Blackout said to have started in Spain

As both Spain and Portugal try to return to normal, the Portuguese government scheduled a new Cabinet meeting for Tuesday morning.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also expected to hold a Natural Security Council chaired by King Felipe VI, according to El Pais.

The electricity went out across Portugal, Spain, and the microstate of Andorra around midday Monday, also affecting parts of France.

“At 12.33 this morning, 15 gigawatts of generation were suddenly lost from the system—in just five seconds. This is something that has never occurred before,” Sanchez told reporters late Monday.

Highlighting that the reason has yet to be determined, he said “no hypothesis or possibility is being ruled out,” as the causes are analyzed.

Spanish energy provider Red Electrica also said the outage was “exceptional and totally extraordinary.”

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said Monday night that the origin of the blackout was not related to the Portuguese grid, pointing to Spain as the source, according to Publico.

“It is related to an abrupt increase in voltage in the Spanish electricity grid, the origin of which we are unable to explain. We know that it was the increase in this voltage that triggered the safety mechanisms that led to this blackout. We will calmly assess with the Spanish authorities what happened and try to design better response instruments,” he added.

Local and European officials said there were no signs that a cyberattack was responsible for the blackout.