António Pedro Santos / Lusa
Passenger takes a bus in Campo Grande in the dark due to the blackout
A year ago, many people rushed to the supermarket to stock up on as many things as possible. Others gained some insights and learned that, perhaps, it is not worth making such a figure. What remains, however, missing is a coordination plan between Health and Civil Defense in the event of a new blackout…
On April 28, 2025, Portugal went dark. A year has passed and there is still no coordination plan – fundamental – between hospitals and Civil Defense in the event of a new blackout…
This is precisely the main flaw (and concern) highlighted by the Association of Hospital Administrators.
Speaking to , the president of the association, Xavier Barretoconsiders that, if there were another blackout again, there would still be a lack of a strategy.
“More than infrastructure – which, yes, is important – there is a lack or lack of a clear coordination plan between the different entities in the health and civil protection sector. This plan has to be created, tested, simulated…“, he stated.
“The absence of electrical energy for a prolonged period of 8/9 hours has never been simulated. The possibility of this happening in the future must be simulated, both by the infrastructures and in the articulation plan, which must be given by the Government“, he added.
Investment required
The Technical Advisory Group (GAT) concluded that the national electrical system is, however, more robust. However, he argued that it was necessary investment and innovation in a context that is decentralized, integrated and complex.
Following the blackout on April 28, 2025, the Government created the GAT, which is made up of 10 experts and academics in the energy field, who analyzed and compiled proposals to increase the resilience of the electrical system.
On the aforementioned radio, the specialist Pedro Sampaio Nunes confirms that today the electrical grid is stronger, but there is still a huge dependence on Spainwhich does not leave us free from a new blackout.
“We remain dependent on the Spanish system, as we are only a fifth of the Iberian system. we are strongly interconnectedwe are not totally immune to this happening”, said one of the GAT members.
