Latest news with #JonNazca
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Telefonica investigates potential cyberattack after release of data from Peru
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Spanish Telecom company Telefonica is seen on a satellite transmission van, in Malaga, Spain November 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's Telefonica said on Tuesday it was looking into a potential cyberattack after data allegedly belonging to one million customers in Peru was released on an internet forum. "We are investigating an alleged security breach. The sample released by the actor, which comprises 1 million records, seems to correspond to customers in Peru," a Telefonica spokesperson said. According to a post on X by HackManac - an account tracking cyberattacks around the world - a group calling itself "Dedale" was offering a database containing information on approximately 22 million Telefonica customers. The self-declared hackers have released a sample of 1 million records it said belonged to Telefonica customers in Peru as proof, although the Spanish company has exited the South American country two months ago. In April, Telefonica sold its troubled Peruvian unit to Argentine company Integra Tec International for about 900,000 euros ($1.03 million). ($1 = 0.8768 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by David Latona)
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Granada substation power loss pinpointed as origin of massive blackout in Spain, Portugal
People walk along a shopping street without electric lighting as police cars patrol to prevent theft and looting in the stores during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain, in Ronda, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo MADRID - An abrupt loss of power generation at a substation in Granada, followed by failures seconds later in Badajoz and Seville, triggered an unprecedented blackout across Spain and Portugal on April 28, Spain's energy minister said on Wednesday. Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told lawmakers that the three initial incidents, whose cause has yet to be determined, led to a generation loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, which triggered a series of grid disconnections. Several investigations are looking into the power outage, but it is the first time Spanish authorities have pointed to a specific origin. Establishing the cause of the outage will take time and there will likely be no simple answers to what appears to be a complex issue, Aagesen said. "We are analysing millions of pieces of data. We also continue to make progress in identifying where these generation losses occurred and we already know that they started in Granada, Badajoz and Seville," Aagesen said. She said the government's investigation is also looking at reports by operators of volatility in the days before the blackout and is examining excessive voltage as one possible cause for the loss of generation. Investigators, Aagesen said, had ruled out any cyberattack on grid operator REE, an imbalance in supply and demand or insufficient grid capacity. She also denied suggestions by some opposition lawmakers that the government had received and ignored warnings from experts that a major blackout could occur, adding that it would be premature to attribute responsibilities until it's known what happened that day. "There was no alert, no warning," she said. Spain's use of renewable energy as an increasing part of its electricity generation has come under scrutiny since the blackout, as has its plan to phase out nuclear energy by 2035. Critics have said that one possible contributor to the outage may have been a lack of so-called "grid inertia" because of the relatively small share of nuclear and fossil fuel generation in Spain's power mix. Aagesen defended the government's energy policy, saying that renewables have lowered bills for households and businesses and will allow Spain to attract more investment while providing more energy autonomy at a time of geopolitical instability. Spain's electricity system continues to use the same level of renewables as it did before and during the outage, she said. "A mix with more renewables reduces external risks. It enables us to anticipate, adapt to, and respond quickly to any eventuality." Aagesen signalled openness to extending the life of nuclear plants, but only if operators could guarantee their security and acceptable prices for consumers, and if this could be shown to contribute to security of supply. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Granada substation power loss pinpointed as origin of massive blackout in Spain, Portugal
People walk along a shopping street without electric lighting as police cars patrol to prevent theft and looting in the stores during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain, in Ronda, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -An abrupt loss of power generation at a substation in Granada, followed by failures seconds later in Badajoz and Seville, triggered an unprecedented blackout across Spain and Portugal on April 28, Spain's energy minister said on Wednesday. Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told lawmakers that the three initial incidents, whose cause has yet to be determined, led to a generation loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, which triggered a series of grid disconnections. Several investigations are looking into the power outage, but it is the first time Spanish authorities have pointed to a specific origin. Establishing the cause of the outage will take time and there will likely be no simple answers to what appears to be a complex issue, Aagesen said. "We are analysing millions of pieces of data. We also continue to make progress in identifying where these generation losses occurred and we already know that they started in Granada, Badajoz and Seville," Aagesen said. She said the government's investigation is also looking at reports by operators of volatility in the days before the blackout and is examining excessive voltage as one possible cause for the loss of generation. Investigators, Aagesen said, had ruled out any cyberattack on grid operator REE, an imbalance in supply and demand or insufficient grid capacity. She also denied suggestions by some opposition lawmakers that the government had received and ignored warnings from experts that a major blackout could occur, adding that it would be premature to attribute responsibilities until it's known what happened that day. "There was no alert, no warning," she said. Spain's use of renewable energy as an increasing part of its electricity generation has come under scrutiny since the blackout, as has its plan to phase out nuclear energy by 2035. Critics have said that one possible contributor to the outage may have been a lack of so-called "grid inertia" because of the relatively small share of nuclear and fossil fuel generation in Spain's power mix. Aagesen defended the government's energy policy, saying that renewables have lowered bills for households and businesses and will allow Spain to attract more investment while providing more energy autonomy at a time of geopolitical instability. Spain's electricity system continues to use the same level of renewables as it did before and during the outage, she said. "A mix with more renewables reduces external risks. It enables us to anticipate, adapt to, and respond quickly to any eventuality." Aagesen signalled openness to extending the life of nuclear plants, but only if operators could guarantee their security and acceptable prices for consumers, and if this could be shown to contribute to security of supply. (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Inti Landauro, Gareth Jones, Mark Heinrich, Elaine Hardcastle)
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
American Climber Dies on World's Fifth-highest Peak in Nepal
Spain Foreign Tourist Numbers Break Record in Early 2025 FILE PHOTO: Tourists tour along the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) on a hot summer day in Ronda, Spain July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo Spain welcomed a record 17 million foreign tourists in the first three months of 2025 as the buoyant sector drives an economy outshining European peers, official data showed on Monday. The 17.1 million foreign tourists arriving in Spain from January to March was a 5.7-percent increase on the same period in 2024, the National Statistics Institute said. Britain, France and Germany supplied the most holidaymakers to the world's second most-visited country, which last year hosted a record 94 million foreign tourists seeking its sun, beaches and culture, AFP reported. Spending by foreign tourists also climbed 7.2 percent to 23.5 billion euros ($26.7 billion), the tourism ministry said in a statement, a welcome development for the government which wants visitors to splash more cash during their stay. The tourist sector was one of the drivers of Spain's standout growth of 3.2 percent in 2024, well above the EU figure of one percent. But the bonanza has sparked a growing backlash among locals who complain that an unsustainable influx of foreign visitors is driving up rents, saturating infrastructure and changing the fabric of neighborhoods. Spain aims to "diversify" destinations, make the sector less dependent on key seasons and "share out the benefits" across the country, Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said in a statement.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Spain suffered multiple power incidents in the build up to full blackout
FILE PHOTO: Tourists check into a hotel without electricity during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain, in Ronda, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Power lines connecting pylons of high-tension electricity are seen during sunset at an electricity substation on the outskirts of Ronda, during a blackout in the city, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo Spain suffered multiple power incidents in the build up to full blackout MADRID - Spain suffered several power glitches and industry officials sounded repeated warnings about the instability of its power grid in the build up to its catastrophic blackout on Monday. The government has ordered several investigations into the blackout. Industry experts say that whatever the cause, the mass outage and earlier smaller incidents indicate the Spanish power grid faces challenges amid the boom of renewables. A surplus of energy supply can disrupt power grids in the same way as a deficit, and grid operators must maintain balance. In the week before the blackout, Spain saw several power surges and cuts. A power cut disrupted railway signals and stranded at least 10 high-speed trains near Madrid on April 22. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said excessive voltage in the power network had triggered disconnections to protect substations. On the same day, Repsol's Cartagena refinery saw its operations disrupted by power supply problems. The grid suffered from significant instability in the days before the blackout, said Antonio Turiel, a senior researcher with the Spanish National Research Council. Spain's grid operator REE did not reply to a request for comment. Spain's energy ministry declined to comment. Spain has ordered inquiries involving government, security agencies and technical experts. A high court judge has launched a probe into whether a cyber attack was to blame. The Spanish power grid had been on a knife edge for several days due to power system imbalances, said Carlos Cagigal, an energy expert who advises private firms on renewable and industrial projects. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and power grid operator REE's chief Beatriz Corredor have both said record levels of renewable energy were not to blame for Monday's blackout. But REE and Europe's power grid lobby ENTSO-E had both previously warned that the rapid rise of power generation from renewables could destabilise the grid. Small renewable generators were putting extra pressure on the infrastructure, REE said in a 2024 report, and REE's parent company Redeia said in February the grid lacked information from smaller plants to be able to operate in real time. INCREASING RISK OF POWER CUTS The risk of power cuts is rising, Redeia warned because the closure of coal, gas-fired and nuclear plants reduces the grid's balancing capacities. "This could increase the risk of operational incidents that could affect supply and the company's reputation," the company said. Solar farms generate direct current (DC) power which doesn't have a frequency like alternating current (AC) power generated by conventional plants. DC power needs to be converted to AC in inverters to be transmitted via grids. If solar generation drops, the grid requires backstop AC power to prevent frequency dropping below dangerous levels after which most power contributors disconnect from the grid. "Shutting down the nuclear plants may put electricity supply at risk," REE's former chair Jordi Sevilla told Spanish news website Voxpopuli in January. Spain plans to shut down all seven nuclear reactors by 2035. The planned closure of two nuclear reactors at southwestern Spain's Almaraz plant, starting in 2027, will increase the risks of blackouts, European power lobby ENTSO-E said in April. REE responded to ENTSO-E by saying there was no risk of a blackout and it could guarantee stable energy supply. Less than a week later, Almaraz temporarily shut down the two units citing abundant wind energy supply as making operations uneconomic. One unit was still offline on Monday. The blackout across Spain and Portugal knocked out communications and transport systems, shut down industry and offices and brought commerce to a virtual standstill. The blackout could have shaved 1.6 billion euros ($1.82 billion), or 0.1%, off GDP, Spain's business lobby estimated. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
