Institutions Strengthen Preparedness For a Potential Accident at the Belarus Nuclear Power Plant
On the 21st September 2023 the Fire Fighters Training School hosted a state-level functional Exercise of the Project “Development of an Early Warning System on Nuclear Emergency of Lithuania” (Project No. LT05-5-VRM-TF-001) funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Programme “Environment, Energy, Climate Change” for the time period of 2014-2021. This is one of the largest exercises to simulate the situation following an accident at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant. The Exercise gathered representatives from 50 institutions and around 500 participants, including people with disabilities.
“While handling the consequences of a potential accident at a nuclear power plant, it is not only the preparedness of each institution that is important, but also their overall interaction, cooperation, and the ability to perform their functions. This Exercise allows us to test our own preparedness as well as strengthens the understanding and performance of the tasks assigned to us by other institutions,” said Mr. Saulius Greičius, Director of the Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the “Department”).
The aim of the Exercise is to assess the preparedness of a part of the entities of the crisis management and civil protection system of the Republic of Lithuania to carry out certain functions of the entities of the crisis management and civil protection system as defined in the National Plan For Protection of Population in Case of Nuclear or Radiological Accident by evacuating the population, as well as by testing the equipment and tools acquired under the Project funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, in the event of a notification of a nuclear accident in Belarus Nuclear Power Plant.
During the Exercise, a nuclear accident occurs at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant. Increased levels of radiation (dose rates) in Lithuania are detected by Early Warning System Radiation stations (RADIS) of the Radiation Protection Centre. Upon receiving information about an imminent or emerging emergency situation, all civil protection system entities and institutions involved in the Exercise acted in accordance with the functions set out in the National Plan For Protection of Population. In response to the situation, the preparedness of a part of entities of the crisis management and civil protection system of the Republic of Lithuania to work in the crisis and emergency mode was activated, and the adoption of necessary decisions was initiated. The institutions took the necessary measures and actions to implement the objectives of the Exercise.
Representatives from the Department, the State Nuclear Power Energy Safety Inspectorate, the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, 18 municipalities, as well as representatives of ministries, the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Public Security Service, the Lithuanian Police, the State Border Guard Service, NGOs, the Lithuanian Disability Organisations’ Forum, the Lithuanian Union of Persons with Disabilities and other institutions took part in the Exercise.
For more information on how to prepare for a potential nuclear accident please visit https://lt72.lt/kaip-elgtis-jei-ivyktu-avarija-atomineje-elektrineje/?lang=en.
Last updated: 03-10-2023
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