‘Malicious act’ causes power cut in Nice, in second day of outages across southern France

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🗞️ Driving the news: A second major power outage struck southern France this weekend, with nearly 45,000 people losing electricity in and around Nice on Sunday after an electrical transformer was set ablaze
• This followed a Saturday blackout affecting 160,000 homes, disrupting the Cannes Film Festival and critical infrastructure. Authorities have labeled both incidents as potential acts of sabotage

🔭 The context: Two self-proclaimed anarchist groups claimed responsibility, citing a coordinated effort to disrupt high-profile targets, including the Cannes Film Festival and regional industrial and military facilities
• French prosecutors are investigating the claims, though no official links have yet been confirmed. Local officials and police have condemned the acts and launched a full investigation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure highlight vulnerabilities in the electricity grid amid growing geopolitical and activist tensions
• Such incidents risk undermining public trust in energy security, especially as nations transition toward more decentralized and renewable energy systems
• Emergency reliance on diesel generators, as seen during the Cannes blackout, also underscores sustainability trade-offs in crisis response

⏭️ What's next: French authorities are expected to enhance surveillance and protection of critical infrastructure, especially in areas hosting major events or housing strategic assets
• Investigators will examine the authenticity of the anarchist groups' claims and assess broader security implications
• Policy responses may include reinforced cyber- and physical security protocols, with outcomes likely to influence national discussions on infrastructure resilience

💬 One quote: “I strongly denounce these malicious acts that affect our country,” — Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice

📈 One stat: The two outages affected over 200,000 residents in less than 36 hours, disrupting power to homes, airports, and major cultural events

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Électricité de France (EDF) and its peers Enel, Iberdrola, RWE

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