Lisbon, May 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The power outage that affected Portugal on 28 April led to a drop in economic activity of around 15%, according to the daily indicator released by the Bank of Portugal (BdP) on Thursday.

According to the note accompanying the daily economic activity indicator (DEI), in the week ending 4 May, there was "a lower year-on-year rate of change in activity than in the previous week, reflecting, in particular, the fall of around 15% on the day of the blackout".

This indicator aggregates high-frequency data related to economic activity in Portugal, such as heavy commercial vehicle traffic on motorways, electricity and natural gas consumption, cargo and mail unloaded at national airports, and card purchases made in Portugal by residents and non-residents.

According to the Bdp, activity measured by these indicators fell by 14.8% on the day of the blackout.

On 28 April, a widespread power cut left mainland Portugal, Spain and Andorra virtually without electricity and part of France.

Closed airports, transport and traffic congestion in major cities and fuel shortages were some consequences of the blackout.

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity announced the creation of a committee to investigate the causes of this blackout, which it described as "exceptional and serious" and which left Portugal and Spain in the dark.

MES/ADB // ADB.

Lusa