Portugal's South Powered by Spain After Storm Kristin Disrupts Grid

Storm Kristin swept across Portugal on 28 January with winds exceeding 220 km/h, severely damaging the high‑voltage transmission line that links the north and south of the country. As a result, the southern region was temporarily supplied with electricity from Spain.

Portuguese Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho announced the arrangement in Madrid during Portugal Day celebrations, saying “A ligação de muita alta tensão entre o Norte e o Sul de Portugal foi profundamente afetada” and “Como a grande parte da produção de eletricidade se encontra a Norte, o Sul do país foi abastecido através de Espanha”. The event was attended by Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen.

The ministers highlighted broader Iberian cooperation, citing joint management of the Tagus and Guadiana rivers under the Albufeira Convention and a 2024 Faro summit agreement that guarantees minimum daily flows. They also referenced collaborative flood‑prevention measures and joint projects such as the Iberian lynx recovery, noting the “work together, daily, on electricity recovery” after the April 2023 Iberian blackout.