REN has already dismantled 20% of the infrastructure and 80% of the cables damaged by Kristin

REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais has already managed to dismantle around 80% of the cables and 20% of the infrastructure damaged by Storm Kristin, which hit Portugal in the early hours of 27 January. The teams that have been on the ground since the early hours, currently around 250 workers and 50 heavy vehicles, are collecting all the damaged material and continuing with the reconstruction in accordance with the established recovery plan, which aims to get essential infrastructure for the National Electricity System (SEN) up and running again as quickly as possible.

In the affected areas, work to rebuild the lines has already begun, with REN teams taking all the necessary steps to lay foundations and erect new pylons. REN has procured a large percentage of the materials needed for the work in progress.

Preventive operations carried out before the arrival of the storm ensured the normal supply of the SEN, despite the extensive damage caused. It should be noted that there were no interruptions attributable to the infrastructure operated by REN, with the exception of localised cuts in the area of the Zêzere Substation, which was partially destroyed.

Since the early hours of 27 January, the various areas of the company have been fully committed to the total recovery of all affected infrastructure, working in coordination with E-Redes, Red Eléctrica de España, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority and other relevant authorities, namely government authorities.

As already mentioned, the total replacement of the pylons is only expected to take place in a few weeks, according to a plan that involved the reallocation of all available teams to the work now considered a priority.

The Kristin storm affected a total of 101 very high voltage pylons, either knocking them down or seriously damaging them, and left 774 kilometres of the National Electricity Transmission Network out of operation.