The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has inaugurated its emergency operations centre (EOC) in Abu Dhabi, aiming to ensure FANR?s readiness to respond to any nuclear or radiological emergencies in the UAE
The initiative is in line with FANR?s mission to protect the public and the environment from radiation risks.
The organisational structure of EOC comprises of multiple functions such as nuclear assessment, radiological assessment, nuclear security team, communication team, as well as trained employees to assess nuclear or radiological accidents.
FANR is part of UAE?s Barakah?s off-site Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Response Plans, which includes a number of national and local entities responsible for responding to the incident commander (Abu Dhabi Police) in case of a nuclear accident.
Therefore, the EOC is equipped with advanced technologies that will advise and coordinate with national entities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support effective response efforts in case of any nuclear or radiological accident. In addition, the centre will provide technical advice to government entities in case of accidents including radiation protection, precautionary action to support protection of the public and the environment.
The UAE is part of international conventions such as the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and request of assistance, which designates FANR as the UAE National Warning Focal Point, competent authority for domestic and abroad for nuclear or radiological emergencies that notifies the IAEA. FANR plays an important role in participating to respond to nuclear or radiological incidents that might occur in the GCC region under the umbrella of the GCC Emergency Management Centre, which is based in Kuwait.
The EOC aims to take part in 15 planned drills in 2019, which includes testing FANR?s emergency plans, assessing readiness and building capacity in various functions of the centre.
