The Council of Government - adoption of the new emergency response plan (PIU) in the event of a nuclear accident

The Council adopted the new emergency response plan (PIU) in the event of a nuclear accident. The plan sets the action the government will take in the event of a nuclear or radiological accident by establishing alert procedures, crisis management bodies and preventive, protective and emergency measures for the population. The accidents that the plan aims to manage are those that cause or could cause large quantities of radioactive materials to be released into the environment and which could pose a risk to public health. The draft plan was optimised following the 3-in-1 cross-border nuclear exercise organised at Greater Region level in 2012 and 2013. With the aim of getting the draft plan finalised and approved by the Council, it was presented to a series of stakeholders involved in the different levels of its implementation.

The emergency response plan plans for four main preventive and protective measures for the population:

Taking shelter, taking potassium iodide tablets, evacuation and food restrictions. It also distinguishes between the different accident phases: The emergency phase and the post-accident phase. The first is divided into a threat phase and a release phase, and the second into a transition phase and a long-term consequence management phase. The old plan's division into yellow, blue and red phases has therefore been replaced. The plan sets a primary planning zone (emergency phase) of 15 km in the event of an evacuation and 25 km if stable iodine tablets must be taken and shelter sought. To avoid having to rush distribution of potassium iodide tablets, the new plan provides for a supply of tablets to be distributed to the Luxembourg population in normal times.

The plan details the crisis management structure as stated in the document on the functioning of the Senior Council for National Protection and the Crisis Cell, approved by the Council of Government on 18 July 2014.

The new plan was presented in details at a press conference held on Tuesday 21 October 2014.