Nuclear Emergency Preparedness in Germany: Lessons Learned from Fukushima and Chernobyl and Their Implementation

Abstract

Both the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear reactor disasters had a huge impact on nuclear energy policy in general and in particular on nuclear emergency planning and response. The Chernobyl accident demonstrated the need for additional planning for precautionary protective actions on food production on a large scale as well as for international harmonization of emergency preparedness and response. As a consequence, the German Integrated Measurement and Information System (IMIS) was established. The Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident demonstrated not only the possibility of severe beyond design accidents in western-type light water reactors but also highlighted the need for in-depth preparation of protection strategies, in particular for INES-7-category accidents, and the outstanding role of psychosocial issues in disaster mitigation and recovery. Following guidance of international bodies and the European directive 2013/59/EURATOM, the Federal Government of Germany reviewed and updated its entire nuclear emergency planning and response framework since 2011. Under the new German radiation protection law, a process of implementing a modern nuclear emergency management system is currently under way.