Repsol has decided to take a step forward and to take to court the damages caused by the major power outage of April 28This incident shook a large part of the Iberian Peninsula's industrial system. The company estimates the economic impact on its facilities at €125 million and has set itself the goal of recovering that amount through legal means.
As explained by its CEO, Josu Jon Imaz, the company will file the claim before one year has passed since the incidentTaking advantage of the maximum time limit established by law for this type of action against third parties, the energy company believes that the damages caused to its industrial facilities are clearly quantifiable and that there are legal grounds to demand compensation.
A claim focused on the power outage of April 28th
Repsol's lawsuit is specifically directed at Zero electricity recorded on April 28A widespread blackout disrupted operations at its main industrial complexes for hours. Imaz himself clarified that this procedure will not include other supply failures experienced in recent times, such as those at its refinery in Cartagena (April 22) or at the complex of Puertollano (June 16), which will be addressed separately.
The group operates five large refineries in SpainThese facilities, located in A Coruña, Bilbao (Petronor), Tarragona, Puertollano, and Cartagena, as well as other industrial assets on the Iberian Peninsula, were all affected to varying degrees by the blackout on April 28. This forced the shutdown of processes, the restarting of equipment, and the incurring of extraordinary operational and safety costs.
In his remarks to analysts regarding the 2025 results, Imaz reiterated that The estimated €125 million in damages are considered "recoverable".The calculation has been finalized over the last few quarters and has already been reflected in the company's financial information as an impact associated with this specific incident.
The chief executive has insisted that the priority is Prepare a solid case from a technical and legal point of viewRepsol is compiling all operational information from the day of the power outage and coordinating internal work with external consultants. Repsol intends to present a complete case file in court, including evidence, financial quantification, and arguments regarding liability.
Waiting for the CNMC report before the legal deadline expires
Although the company has decided to file the lawsuit, Imaz has avoided getting into controversies about the exact causes of the blackout and those possibly responsibleOn several occasions he has stressed that he does not want to fuel a "public debate" until the official conclusions of the ongoing investigation are known.
La National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has been analyzing for months what happened on April 28The focus is on the operation of the electrical system and the various agents involved. Repsol is awaiting this report, which it considers key to clarifying what went wrong and who could ultimately bear responsibility for the damages.
However, the oil company cannot remain idle: the law sets a one-year time limit for claim against third parties for this type of damagesTherefore, the company will file the legal action before the end of April, regardless of whether or not there is a final ruling from the CNMC. Imaz has admitted that the alignment between regulatory and procedural timelines is not perfect, but understands that the company cannot risk losing its right to demand compensation.
Regarding the chances of success, the executive has been cautious and has indicated that “He doesn’t have a crystal ball” to anticipate the verdict, although he does see elements that work in his favor. Among them, the magnitude of the blackout, the sudden nature of the outage, and the fact that it simultaneously affected several critical facilities in Spain and Portugal.
Within Repsol, it is assumed that there will be a complex, possibly lengthy, procedure in which technical expertise and legal precedents They will carry significant weight. The company is prepared to sustain the litigation for as long as necessary if it achieves compensation that, in its view, is due for the damages suffered.
The Petronor precedent: 18 million for a 12-minute outage
In this context, one of the arguments that Imaz repeats most often is the precedent set by the Supreme Court in 2022On that occasion, the Supreme Court upheld an award of compensation in favor of PetronorRepsol's subsidiary in the Basque Country, for the damages caused by a power outage of just 12 minutes.
In that case, the Supreme Court upheld a compensation of 18 millones de eurosThe amount recognized both the direct damage to the refinery's operations and the costs arising from the shutdown and subsequent restart of the facilities. For Repsol, this ruling demonstrates that the Spanish judicial system is willing to assess the economic consequences of power outages in large industrial complexes.
Imaz has gone further and explained that, in terms of order of magnitude, Those 18 million are “very close” to the impact suffered in each of their industrial centers during the power outage of April 28. This reference serves to illustrate that the 125 million claimed to date is not, in the company's opinion, an inflated figure, but rather the sum of damages comparable to those already recognized in the Petronor case.
Repsol's reasoning is based on the idea that Each refinery and petrochemical complex functions as a highly integrated systemwhich cannot be stopped and started without incurring high costs and added risks. A sudden blackout forces the activation of safety protocols, the burning or rerouting of products, equipment inspections, and, sometimes, unscheduled maintenance.
Therefore, the company interprets the criterion set by the Supreme Court in 2022 as establishing a clear line: If an external power supply failure causes a disruption of that magnitude, there should be financial compensation.The challenge now will be to demonstrate that the blackout of April 28th has even more serious conditions than the outage that affected Petronor at the time.
Other legal fronts: Hydrocarbon Tax
Alongside the claim for the blackout, Repsol has an open Another battle in the courts over the regional portion of the Special Tax on Hydrocarbons, applied between 2013 and 2014. In this area, the company has followed a strategy very similar to that of other oil companies such as Galp or BP.
The Supreme Court has already ruled in favor of these competitors, ordering the Tax Agency to return the amounts paid for that regional surcharge, along with the corresponding interest, considering that the design of the tax violated European Union lawThese failures have opened the door for other companies in the sector to make similar claims.
Imaz has acknowledged that Repsol's claim in this area It is “almost the same, or very similar” to those already won by other oil companiesHowever, he has stopped short of assuming an identical outcome. He stated that the company is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on its specific case, though no date has yet been set for that decision.
The CEO himself has pointed out, somewhat ironically, that “He is neither a lawyer nor a chemist”However, from a legal standpoint, he sees clear parallels with the appeals that have already been successful. In any case, he reiterated that the final decision rests with the Supreme Court and that the company will accept whatever decision is reached.
This tax dispute thus adds to the claim for the 125 million linked to the blackoutThis creates a scenario in which Repsol is attempting to recover, through legal channels, a significant portion of the costs and charges it considers unjustified. The company maintains that litigation in these cases is part of the standard defense of its interests and those of its shareholders.
Impact on the sector and the role of Moeve and Galp
The blackout on April 28th didn't just affect Repsol. Moeve (formerly Cepsa) was also seriously affected due to the power outage, which in some areas lasted more than 12 hours. The company has already quantified the impact of that incident on its first-half accounts at around 50 million euros and is also preparing legal action for damages.
Moeve operates two large refineries in southern Spain: La Rabida, in Huelva, and that of Gibraltar-San Roquein the province of Cádiz. Both facilities, key for the supply of fuels on the peninsula and for export, suffered forced shutdowns during the electrical blackout, with the consequent operating and safety costs.
The blackout was also felt in Portugal, where Galp has a major refining complex in SinesThis plant is part of the industrial network that the Portuguese company is considering integrating with Moeve's, in an operation that would also include the merger of its service station networks in Spain and Portugal.
Regarding this potential corporate move, Imaz has been surprisingly open: He believes that the Moeve-Galp integration would be positive for the market. And, in his words, “good news for Repsol.” In his opinion, the operation highlights the attractiveness of the Iberian fuel and refining markets and reflects the dynamism of the sector.
When asked about Repsol's potential interest in assets that could be put up for sale if competition authorities required divestments to approve the merger, the CEO opted for caution. He indicated that it is "too early" to speculate.since the project is in a very preliminary phase and the entire regulatory process remains to be completed.
Aside from these strategic considerations, what has become clear is that The blackout on April 28 has led several major oil companies to file coordinated or at least similar claimsboth in Spain and Portugal. The outcome of these lawsuits could set a significant precedent for the relationship between large industrial consumers and the Iberian electricity system.
Taken together, Repsol's legal offensive reveals a company that It combines public prudence regarding the causes of the blackout with a clear determination to recover the costs it has borne.While awaiting the publication of the CNMC's report and the Supreme Court's ruling on the regional portion of the Hydrocarbons Tax, the company has already made it clear that it will not forgo any of the legal avenues available to it to protect its interests.
