NCEMA supervises emergency response plan of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant

The authorities responsible for the external response system at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant are continuing their preparations and reviewing their plans to respond to nuclear emergencies, under the supervision of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA.

The external response system at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant involves a working team from local departments in Abu Dhabi, along with federal authorities and strategic partners, who work together in coordinating plans and procedures to prepare for any nuclear emergency at the plant, when producing electricity from nuclear energy.

The system’s medical response component is a crucial part of Abu Dhabi’s capacity to respond to a nuclear emergency. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, one of the strategic partners in this project, is cooperating and coordinating with the Abu Dhabi Health Department, the Ministry of Health and the Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Team, to prepare a medical readiness system with plans, equipment and qualified doctors.

The specialised joint command and control exercise of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant’s external response system, conducted by the NCEMA, in cooperation and coordination with the Abu Dhabi Police and with the participation of all authorities and strategic partners, also highlighted the system’s medical capacities and related specialist procedures, to face any type of nuclear emergency.

Dr. Ghawiya Al Niyadi, Director of Medical Services at ADNOC, stated that Al Rowais Hospital was chosen to be the first receiver of nuclear emergency cases, after the installation of a fixed disinfection unit and three mobile units, the first of their kind in the region.

She added that they have 1,242 staff members who are trained to handle nuclear emergencies, while adding that their readiness adoption plan was implemented through developing the related capacities of the hospital staff and preparing its disinfection units and equipment, along with developing policies and standards, training technical personnel and enhancing communication networks and cooperation in exchanging experiences and knowledge.