Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi and Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al Thani during the workshop organised by the MoECC in Doha, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has started practical training in preparation for implementing National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency.
To protect the public and the environment in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency, effective response arrangements are needed, this was revealed during a workshop launched by the Ministry’s Radiation Protection Department in Doha yesterday.
Addressing the event, Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said that the MoECC coordinated with the relevant national authorities to prepare the National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency, which was in line with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
He said that the plan includes all precautions and preventive measures that are taken in emergency situations as well as defining the roles and responsibilities of the entities in accordance with their competencies in the national legislation. Al Subaie said that the workshop comes as an introduction to the final adoption of the plan, and to begin implementing the next stages by preparing the necessary institutional arrangements and plans to implement the requirements of the National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies.
The event was attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al Thani.
The Minister said that the multiplicity and diversity of radiological and nuclear applications in various civil fields has demonstrated the need and necessity for planning to confront radiological and nuclear risks.
He noted the acceleration in use of nuclear technologies, especially nuclear power plants due to the increasing need for electricity and the reduction in carbon emissions.
The Minister said that MoECC has reviewed the national arrangements related to preparedness for radiological and nuclear emergencies, and prepared studies and documents related to this matter, including the national database of radioactive materials in the possession of some licensed institutions and facilities in the country.
He stressed that the ministry monitors any abnormal changes in order to support early warning arrangements or activate the national response to emergency situations.
Al Subaie said the ministry uses the latest devices and technologies for detection and radiological analysis for all cases.
The two-day event is part of the efforts of MoECC to prepare for any emergency, in accordance with the recommendations of the IAEA. The workshop witnessed practical training for implementing the national plan for radiological and nuclear emergencies, with the participation of many specialised teams from other national institutions. Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs and the National Liaison Officer of Qatar with IAEA in technical cooperation Abdul Hadi Nasser Al Marri said that the plan received attention and participation from all concerned parties in the country.
He said that it includes precautions and preventive measures to protect the population, the environment, and emergency responders in accordance with the standards issued by the IAEA. Al Marri said that the plan also includes defining the roles and responsibilities of the agencies concerned with the response.
Director of the Radiation Protection Department Eng Abdul Rahman Yousef Al Abdul Jabbar said that the national plan was prepared with great care and precision due to its great importance in confronting any effects resulting from nuclear and radiological accidents and emergencies.
The National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency is being developed to prepare for collaboration and support nuclear and radiological emergency operations at the national level.
It is intended for all sectors to achieve an appropriate state of national preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergencies.
