Vandellòs II nuclear power plant conducts emergency drill against drone attack

The exercise tested security protocols against external threats and adverse weather conditions.

Generic image of emergency lights in an industrial setting.
IA

Generic image of emergency lights in an industrial setting.

The Vandellòs II nuclear power plant held its annual emergency drill this Thursday, May 14, simulating a hostile drone attack and an automatic reactor shutdown.

The exercise, included in the Internal Emergency Plan (PEI), involved the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), the Generalitat Fire Department, and the Civil Guard. The simulated scenario began at 9:38 AM, triggered by wind gusts exceeding 110 kilometers per hour and a failure in the turbine building, leading to an automatic reactor shutdown.
The scenario included an external attack with drones and two intrusion attempts, leading to the declaration of category IV of the PEI, the highest level. As a preventive measure, the confinement of the population within a 10-kilometer radius around the plant was recommended.
During the day, a fire was simulated at the facilities, along with medical assistance for an injured person and the evacuation of non-essential personnel. The Associació Nuclear Ascó-Vandellòs II (ANAV) highlighted that these tests are essential to validate radiological surveillance protocols and decontamination procedures.