Portugal’s Infrastructure Minister, Miguel Pinto Luz, stated on Tuesday that a major power outage that had begun in Spain affected the country, with the government focusing efforts on reaching the populace. He also emphasized that “Portugal is currently autonomous, working only with energy produced within the country.”
“We had to utilize the media and social networks to try in every way to reach the population. It was necessary. We were not concerned with propaganda; we were in a crisis room, communicating with those in need,” Miguel Pinto Luz told SIC Notícias.
The minister acknowledged the need for improvements in future communication, admitting, “We must improve and consider how we can communicate with people in the future, no doubt,” while reiterating that “the blackout originated in Spain.”
He further noted that “the causes of the blackout are still unknown,” yet guaranteed that “Portugal is now autonomous, relying solely on internal energy resources.”
A widespread power outage affected both Portugal and Spain on Monday from 11:30 AM, lacking a detailed explanation from the authorities. The incident led to airport closures, transportation disruptions, and traffic congestion in major cities. Energy restoration occurred gradually throughout the day, beginning in the country’s central region.
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