In April, a major power outage affected large parts of Spain and Portugal. The event, now known as the Iberian Peninsula blackout, left millions without electricity and disrupted transport, hospitals, factories, and communication systems. While the technical reasons are still under investigation, early reports point to failures in transmission lines and a lack of backup systems.
For professionals in the energy and infrastructure sectors, this incident is a strong reminder of how important it is to be prepared, not just technically, but also operationally. One of the most important areas in these situations is emergency procurement and the ability to maintain a strong and flexible supply chain.
What Is Emergency Procurement?
Emergency procurement refers to the rapid acquisition of goods and services during a crisis, such as a natural disaster, infrastructure failures, or conflict. In energy terms, this may include transformers, generators, fuel, cabling, safety equipment, or specialist repair teams.
In emergency conditions, standard procurement processes often do not work fast enough. Long approval chains, limited supplier access, and logistical restrictions can delay response efforts. This can increase costs, prolong outages, and increase the risk to public safety.
Why Emergency Procurement Matters
When a power outage happens on this scale, governments, utility and service providers need to act quickly. Equipment like generators, transformers, and fuel must be delivered fast. Delays can make situations worse and even put lives at risk.
Lessons from the Iberian Blackout
The blackout in Spain and Portugal shows how even advanced infrastructure systems can fail. Despite having well-established grids, they were not fully prepared for this type of failure. Delays in restoring power in some areas pointed to broader issues, not just technical ones, but operational ones as well.
Some include limited inventory of replacement parts, delays in coordinating international suppliers, insufficient transport capacity, and over-reliance on local suppliers.
While these challenges are not unique to the Iberian Peninsula, this situation is a reminder to review emergency procurement strategies.
Building Resilient Supply Chains in Energy Projects
The blackout also showed how modern energy systems are linked and complex. A problem in one part of the grid can affect an entire country. That’s why energy projects must be built with supply chain stability in mind.
To prepare for future disruptions, companies should consider the following preparations:
Also, digital supply chain management tools can help track inventory, shipments, and supplier capacity in real time, allowing for quicker responses when time is critical.
Emergency procurement is only part of the picture. A properly resilient supply chain can anticipate, take on and recover from disruptions with minimal impact.
As energy systems become more interconnected and climate-related risks increase, the pressure on infrastructure and supply chains will grow, so planning ahead is crucial for risk management and operational stability.