A 38-hour emergency exercise that tested the international response to a simulated accident at a nuclear power plant has successfully concluded. The exercise was coordinated by the IAEA over two days in cooperation with 75 countries and 9 international organizations.
The simulated accident occurred at Mexico´s Laguna Verde nuclear power plant, a two-unit facility along the Gulf of Mexico coast. As the emergency drill progressed, the simulated accident escalated in severity, ultimately rated as a Level 5 "Accident with Wider Consequences" on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) because of its potential effects outside the plant site. The event challenged the readiness of nuclear safety, emergency operations, and communications mechanisms to respond to a theoretical radiological or nuclear mishap.
"The exercise was a success in that it demonstrated strengths but also the weak points in the international emergency response system," said the IAEA´s Rafael Martincic, who led the preparation and evaluation of the Laguna Verde exercise.
"Only by identifying weaknesses can we improve the system´s response to large-scale radiological emergencies. On behalf of the IAEA, we thank all participating Member States and international organizations for their dedication and cooperation," he said.
The exercise was planned for several months, and similar simulations are periodically done to test national and international nuclear emergency response plans and systems. The Laguna Verde test was coordinated by the Inter-Agency Committee for Response to Nuclear Accidents (IACRNA), which can activate a sizeable roster of international organizations and countries to play specific roles during such emergency drills.
A previous simulative exercise took place in Romania in 2005.
The focus now is on evaluating the Laguna Verde exercise, to review findings and identify lessons learned that will further improve the international nuclear emergency response system.