The president of the government, Pedro Sánchez, has appeared in Congress this May 7 to give explanations about the blackout of April 28. In this same appearance, Sanchez has also explained the Spanish defense strategy to adapt to “the new needs” of the European Union (EU).
We review with data and context the claims of the different deputies.
The role of renewable energies
In his appearance, Sánchez has referred to the role of renewables, since since the day of the blackout, several politicians and messages in networks suggest that the excess of installation of these technologies as a possible cause of the “national zero”. Experts point out that the rapid growth of installed power has not been accompanied by an update of systems in the power so fast.
[¿Qué falló? “Las renovables en sí no provocan un apagón pero su gestión exige mejoras en el sistema”]
However, “the renewables themselves They do not cause blackouts“, Although” its management demands improvements in the system, “says Miguel de Simón, a professor and researcher in the area of Electrical Engineering of the University of León.
The causes of the blackout are still being analyzed and the government estimates that its investigation will last between three and six months.
How renewables operated before the blackout
Sanchez said that on April 28 “our electrical system was operating with renewable levels lower than many previous days.” As the Electric Red Data collects:
- The day of the blackout, the renewable generation represented 60.1% of the energy mix. The previous days, the percentage was higher: ten days before, was 69% and, the day before, of 65%.
- On specific days of the month of April, there were hours in which the demand was 100% covered by renewable energies, as several media reported such as Public and Xataka.
The closure of nuclear in the appearance of Sánchez
Both the president of the Government and other leaders have talked about nuclear power plants. Specifically, Sánchez has referred to the owner companies and the closing calendar.
- As we count on Newtral.es, the closing calendar was agreed between the main energy companies and the government.
Despite not having a formal request, some voices have requested flexibility in the calendar. From a nuclear forum, although they recognize that at the time they signed the 2019 business agreement, they argue that “the energy situation is different” than then.
The opposition criticizes that there are no explanations
Different parties have criticized that more than a week has passed since the blackout and there are no “explanations” of the causes by the government. “Or is it that if you know and what you intend is to gain time to make a version?” Criticized the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, while Miriam Nogueras (Junts) accuses them of “accumulating silences.”
- In statements to RTVE, energy specialist Jorge Morales opted for prudence: “In the recent blackouts we have had in the Canary Islands (…) We take months in knowing exactly what was happening because you have to enter the detail of the millisecond. ”
The European research requested after the blackout
In his appearance, Sánchez reiterated that, after the blackout, the Government requested “the European Electricity Coordination Group” that “prepares an independent report of Brussels”.
- A note. The European Network of Electricity Transportation Networks (ENTSO-E) managers also established a panel of experts to investigate the causes, but not by Spanish request, but according to “with European legislation for such an exceptional and serious incident.”
Feijóo’s statement. The PP leader asked Sánchez “to delegate its elaboration [de un informe] In the cooperation agency of the Energy Regulators of the European Union, as the Portuguese Prime minister has just done. ”
- However, the popular overlooks Sanchez has already done so, since the agency quoting Feijóo is the same as the president.
The blackouts of other countries
On the recovery of energy after the blackout, Sanchez said in his appearance that “it had never been made at the scale and speed that was made in our country.” According to Red Eléctrica, at 10:30 p.m. almost 50% of the demand had been recovered and, at 07: 00h the next day, 99.95%. That is, it took about 20 hours.
- In 2003, Italia He suffered a blackout that affected about 45 million people and was restored after 18 hours.
- Also in 2003, the northeast of USA and southeast of Canada He suffered a blackout that affected more than 50 million people. In some provinces such as Ontario, electricity took 30 hours to restore.
- In 2019, Argentina and some areas of Uruguay and Brazil They suffered a blackout that also affected 50 million people. As reported Infobaeelectricity was recovered after just over 14 hours.
The political affiliation of Ree presidents
In his reply to the appearance of Sánchez, Feijóo referred to the blackout and the president of Red Eléctrica, Beatriz Corredor, to ensure that “to destabilize this country there was only necessary one ex -minister of Zapatero compared by you in the direction”.
However, omit that it is usual for the highest responsible for Redeia to have passed through positions of different governments or parties, both of the PSOE and the PP.
- He passed with Jordi Sevilla (Minister of Public Administrations with Zapatero and deputy of the PSOE) or with José Folgado (Secretary of State in different governments of the PP).
The bulre on the statements of von der Leyen
In his appearance, Sánchez has referred to a bully that circulated on social networks after the blackout. According to several messages, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said it was “a direct attack on European sovereignty.” But it is false.
In addition to not having a record of such statements – in the media or the president’s networks – from the president’s press team they have indicated that they are false.
Rufián and the situation in La Cañada Real
Several spokesmen, such as Gabriel Rufián (ERC) and Verónica Martínez (Sumar), have used their reply shift in Sánchez’s appearance to criticize the situation of Brugel de la Cañada Real, in Madrid.
- “The blackout is not something new. There are people in this country who lives in a chronic blackout. La Cañada Real, for example,” Rufián denounced.
As we have at Newtral.es, about 4,500 people – 1,800 minors – have lived without electricity for just over four years in these settlements, a situation that several organizations and even the Council of Europe are denounced.
The commitment of 2% of Spain in defense
In the second part of his appearance, Sánchez has focused on the defense plan. The socialist said that, in 2014, Mariano Rajoy “promised to comply with 2%” of GDP expenditure that NATO marks and, in 2018, “the budget in defense was at 0.9%.” “Far from approaching, he moved away even more,” he criticized.
What do the data say. According to NATO data, in 2014 the defense expenditure in Spain represented 0.92% of GDP and, four years later, 0.91%. Since then, 1.28%has been in increase in 2024.
- That fact placed Spain in the last place in defense spending on GDP among the 32 NATO countries.
Russian gas purchases
Feijóo accused Sánchez of buying “23,000 million gas” from the “Russian oligarchs”, however, there are no data that support this statement.
- The Euronews media reported that it is estimated that, in 2024, the entire EU team – not only Spain – bought 23,000 million euros in Russian fossil fuels.
Spain’s military personnel
Sanchez has presented the defense plan during his appearance and has affirmed that 35% of the entire budget “will be used to improve the working conditions of the troop, of the preparation and modernize the equipment.”
- As we count on Newtral.es, NATO data shows that in 2024 43.9% of Spain’s defense expenditure went to personnel expenses.
According to experts such as Antonio Fonfría, Professor of Applied Economics at the UCM, the greater the amount of investment in technology and material, lower weight has personnel expenses on the total.
An increase in staff. The defense plan presented by Sánchez in its appearance also includes an increase in the number of troops of the Armed Forces, as reported by the President.
- In Newtral.es, we explain that the Spanish armed forces are the largest fifths in the EU by number of troops, but falls to the 16th place in terms of military per inhabitant, below the European average.
- Spain would need almost 60,000 more military to reach the European average.
