Nuclear Emergency Preparedness in Africa: Six regulatory bodies meet in Fontenay-aux-Roses (France)
In early June 2026, ASNR hosted, under a contract funded by the European Commission, experts from six African nuclear and radiological regulatory bodies for a week-long workshop on emergency preparedness and response.
The event brought together representatives from Egypt (ENRRA), Ghana (NRA), Kenya (KNRA), Morocco (AMSSNuR), Nigeria (NNRA) and South Africa (NNR and SAHPRA) as part of the INSC project “Strengthening Nuclear Safety Regulatory Capacity in Africa”. This project is funded by the European Union under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC).
Held at ASNR's premises in Fontenay-aux-Roses from 1 to 5 June 2026, the workshop covered three interconnected topics central to nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness: hazard assessment for nuclear and radiological facilities, assessment and prognosis (A&P) methodologies used during emergencies, and the design and conduct of emergency exercises.
Sessions were led by ASNR experts Olivier Isnard, Emmanuel Quentric, Maxime Klein, Stéphane Defour and Laurence Legrand, drawing on French regulatory practice and operational experience. Participants had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with French practices in emergency planning, hazard assessment and A&P methodologies tools that will be directly applicable in their national contexts. They also visited ASNR's Emergency Response Centre, offering a first-hand look at how France manages nuclear emergencies at the national level.
Observation of the Cattenom full-scale exercise.
The highlight of the week was the observation of a full-scale emergency exercise at the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant. Participants from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa were able to observe in real time how French authorities, operators and emergency response teams coordinate during a simulated nuclear accident. This kind of direct, immersive experience is rarely accessible to foreign regulatory bodies and represents a unique opportunity for peer learning.
Mutual learning at the heart of the workshop
Beyond the technical content, what made this workshop particularly valuable was the quality of the exchanges between participants. Each country presented its current practices, recent progress and remaining challenges. These peer-to-peer discussions (between regulators facing similar issues in very different national contexts) proved as enriching as the technical sessions themselves.
Part of a broader cooperation programme
This workshop, coordinated by ASNR Commissioner Jean-Luc Lachaume as Task Leader, is the second of 2026 under the INSC project. Further workshops, field missions and exercises (including activities hosted on African soil) are planned through 2028, covering topics such as regulatory frameworks, inspection practices, monitoring strategies and advanced A&P methodologies.