France will test crisis response with 2027 blackout drill
France is planning a nationwide power outage simulation in 2027 to test its crisis response capabilities, involving key government bodies, military, and electricity grid operators. The exercise aims to assess the country's ability to restore power and maintain essential services in the event of a major blackout or cyberattack. This initiative comes amidst growing concerns over emergency preparedness due to recent environmental crises and international incidents.
Why it matters
Preparing for large-scale power outages and cyberattacks is critical for national security and public safety, ensuring essential services can continue and infrastructure can be restored efficiently. This drill highlights France's proactive approach to national resilience in the face of modern threats.
Wildfires and extreme heat have thrust emergency preparedness into the political spotlight.
Copy Link Copied Share via email Share on X Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn Free article usually reserved for subscribers Electricity pylons near Saint-Laurent-de-Terregatte in France are pictured on Dec. 6, 2022. | Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images August 7, 2026 4:00 am CET By Judith Chetrit , Nicolas Camut and Victor Goury-Laffont PARIS — Is France ready for a crisis that plunges it into darkness? The French government is planning to find out.
The government is looking to organize a tabletop simulation of a sudden, nationwide power outage in the second half of 2027, according to four people with direct knowledge of the exercise, who were granted anonymity to discuss plans that have not been publicly announced.
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