Spain dismisses cyberattack theory in nationwide blackout investigation

Spain's government has officially ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the significant blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula last month. This announcement comes as authorities continue to investigate the outage, which occurred on April 28, leaving cities across Spain and Portugal in darkness and disrupting telecommunications and transportation systems.

The Spanish grid operator, Red Eléctrica, reported that no indications of a cybersecurity incident were detected during the events leading up to the blackout. Ecological Transition Minister Sara Aagesen addressed parliament, stating, "After analysing all the relevant data, we have not found indications that the system operator was targeted by a cyberattack."

In her presentation, Aagesen detailed a timeline of events prior to the blackout, noting that two significant power fluctuations were recorded within a half-hour window before the grid failure at 12:33 PM (1033 GMT). She specified that the outages were triggered by incidents at substations located in southern provinces, specifically Granada, Badajoz, and Seville.

As investigations continue, authorities are examining potential links between these fluctuations and the blackout, scrutinizing an extensive array of data from electricity companies and Red Eléctrica. Aagesen emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation, stating, "The investigation into the outage will last as long as necessary, and we will not allow hastiness to take us away from the truth."

Amid the unfolding situation, Aagesen faced criticism from the right-wing opposition, which has questioned the Socialist-led government's increasing reliance on renewable energy sources and its intentions to phase out nuclear power. The government's commitment to renewable energy remains a contentious issue as discussions about energy security and infrastructure resilience continue to gain prominence.

As Spain seeks to uncover the underlying causes of the blackout, the focus will be on ensuring the stability of its energy grid and addressing any vulnerabilities that may exist within its infrastructure.