No Indications Spain, Portugal Blackout a Cyberattack: EU’s Costa
A massive power outage left millions of people in Spain and Portugal without electricity earlier this week, sparking concerns about the potential cause of the disruption. EU Council President Antonio Costa has now weighed in, stating that there are “no indications of any cyberattack at this point” behind the blackout.
The power outage, which began on Tuesday evening, affected around 10 million people across both countries. Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and Portuguese grid operator REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais) have been working to identify the cause of the disruption and restore electricity supplies.
In a tweet, Costa assured that he is in close contact with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to monitor the situation and provide support. “Grid operators in both countries are working on finding the cause and restoring the electricity supply,” he added.
While there is currently no indication of a cyberattack, the possibility of a digital component cannot be ruled out entirely. Cybersecurity experts have pointed out that a cyberattack could have been designed to mimic a grid failure, making it more difficult to identify the true cause of the outage.
In recent years, there have been several high-profile attacks on critical infrastructure around the world, including a 2020 attack on a Ukrainian power grid that left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity. Similarly, a 2019 attack on a US nuclear facility highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats.
The motives behind the blackout are still unclear, but experts have suggested that it could be related to a technical issue, maintenance work, or even a natural disaster. Regardless of the cause, the incident has raised concerns about the resilience of Spain and Portugal’s power grids and the potential consequences of a prolonged outage.
A prolonged power outage could have significant economic and social impacts, particularly in industries that rely heavily on electricity, such as healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. It could also put a strain on emergency services, which may need to respond to a range of emergencies, from medical emergencies to fire and rescue operations.
In the aftermath of the blackout, both Spanish and Portuguese authorities have pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the outage and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The EU has also offered support and assistance to both countries, highlighting the importance of the bloc’s energy security and the need for member states to work together to address common challenges.
As the investigation continues, it is clear that the blackout has significant implications for Spain, Portugal, and the EU as a whole. While there are currently no indications of a cyberattack, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure to ensure the resilience and security of our energy systems.
Source: https://x.com/eucopresident/status/1916859055546544517
