Koeberg safety drill tomorrow

8 Nov 2016

An exercise to test the effectiveness of the radiological release hazard disaster risk management plan will be carried out at Koeberg tomorrow, 9 November 2016. During the exercise, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) will evaluate and assess the integration and response arrangements of the various role players to a simulated emergency scenario.

The exercise is planned to ensure that public safety arrangements are in place in the case of a nuclear emergency and that residents are not endangered. It will include the relevant role players from, among others, the Western Cape Government, National Government and Eskom.

The scenario will examine the different stages of emergency, including evacuation plans, mass care centres, transport arrangements, decontamination, and the distribution of potassium iodate tablets.

This could also include potential road closures as the NNR requires that a roadblock be held on one of the following roads:

R27 West Coast Road and Silverstream Road

R27 West Coast Road and M14 Melkbosstrand Road

R304 and Philadelphia Road

N7 and Melkbosstrand Road

The NNR will only reveal the exact location and time of the exercise underway tomorrow.

Residents in the vicinity of Koeberg should not be alarmed if they hear sirens during the course of the day.

The City of Cape Town apologises for any inconvenience caused and appeals to the public to please comply with any requests from emergency services staff on the day. Preparedness exercises like this are an important part of ensuring that the city is able to deal with a nuclear incident.