Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, is in the dark today after a widespread power outage hit the city and surrounding areas. The outage comes at an incredibly tough time, with temperatures plummeting to a bone-chilling -27°F, making it even harder for residents to cope.
The power failure has left homes, businesses, and essential services without electricity. While the cause is still under investigation, early reports suggest ice buildup and a severe storm may have damaged power lines. The Buksefjord hydroelectric plant, which powers Nuuk, failed, and restarting it has been nearly impossible due to the harsh weather conditions.
The impact is already being felt—businesses are shut down, and residents are struggling to stay warm. Communication networks are down too, making it difficult for emergency services to coordinate. Kaspar Mondrup, the director of energy at Nukissiorfiit, the company responsible for power, described the situation as highly dramatic.
One of the most concerning aspects is the failure of the backup diesel generators, which hadn’t been used in 25 years. They couldn’t start, leaving the city without power for longer than expected. This highlights a bigger problem: Greenland’s power infrastructure has been neglected. Nukissiorfiit admitted in 2020 that it was only spending 19% of what was needed for maintenance, leaving the grid vulnerable.
As emergency crews work to restore power, Nuuk’s residents are left facing the cold and uncertainty. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the recovery process will likely take time.
Sources:
https://ing.dk/artikel/nuuk-blackout-director-energy-talks-about-highly-dramatic-week-greenland
https://polarjournal.ch/en/2022/01/21/greenlands-power-infrastructure-is-coming-undone/
7 views