Neither gasoline nor diesel cars were spared from the blackout: why gas stations can't refuel when the power goes out

Electric cars , of course, weren't the only ones to suffer the consequences of the blackout that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula on Monday. The inability to recharge their batteries left many drivers unable to continue their journey. But this situation wasn't exclusive to emission-free cars, as gas stations were also affected by the power outage, which prevented fuel supply to combustion engine vehicles.

Many drivers have shared their frustration on social media at being unable to refuel during the blackout. The dependence on electricity for gas stations was one of the main causes of this situation. According to Nacho Rabadán, general director of the Spanish Confederation of Service Station Owners (CEEES), fuel pumps and credit card payment systems require electricity to operate.

“Without electricity, there's no way to supply fuel. We depend on electricity to operate the pumps and to transport fuel from the tanks to the pump. So yesterday was chaotic,” Rabadán says.

Only gas stations with a generator were able to continue operating, albeit with some difficulties.

Only a few gas stations with generators were able to operate, although they are very few and are located in isolated areas where power outages are more frequent. "They are very few, as are those with backup batteries, which are practically nonexistent, and in many cases, they were also unable to supply fuel without payment in cash."

Another additional problem encountered by the service stations that were able to operate thanks to the generators was that, since these were completely computerized systems, even if they had power to operate, they couldn't refill the fuel tanks. "If they ran out of fuel, they didn't have the ability to request more fuel," explains Rabadán.

Despite these difficulties, gas stations continued to provide a refuge for drivers. “Tow trucks would remove cars stranded on the road and transport them to the service stations so they could refuel when the stations reopened.”

The service station employers' association is committed to developing an emergency plan to prevent chaotic situations like the one experienced on Monday.

Although the blackout is now over, the CEEES warns that the situation remains critical. Rabadán explains that of the nine refineries in Spain, all, except the one in Castellón, were shut down due to the power outage. "In a matter of a few hours, many things were damaged," he notes.

To address this setback, the Prime Minister announced the liberalization of strategic fuel reserves for a few days, ensuring that gas stations can continue operating and supplying drivers while refineries resume operations.

After the difficult experience of the blackout, the head of the gas station employers' association acknowledges that the situation has provided important lessons to consider for the future. Rabadán points out that during the power outage, many gas stations, in addition to supplying drivers, had to deliver diesel to hospitals to power their generators.

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However, this process was not without complications, as the computer system, which relies on electricity, was unable to issue the reference codes necessary for the trucks to transport the fuel regularly.

“Digital is going very well, but what happens when everything goes down?” Rabadán asks. “In a case as critical as that of a hospital, the lack of fuel to power the ventilators in an ICU due to the inability to obtain a reference code is a problem that cannot be repeated.”

Therefore, the Confederation is committed to designing an emergency plan that will guarantee fuel supply in extreme situations, "without relying on digital technology" in times of widespread power outages.