Today, Thursday November 28, a national nuclear safety exercise is being organized at the Tricastin nuclear power plant, located in Drôme. This exercise aims to test and strengthen security and crisis management systems in the event of a major incident, by involving several actors and territories.
19 Gard municipalities concerned
The scope of the Special Intervention Plan (PPI), established over a radius of 20 km around the power plant, includes 19 municipalities in Gard:
- Aiguèze
- Bagnols-sur-Cèze
- Carsan
- Chusclan
- Le Garn
- Issirac
- Laval-Saint-Roman
- Pont-Saint-Esprit
- Saint-Alexandre
- Saint-Christol-de-Rodières
- Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts
- Saint-Gervais
- Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas
- Saint-Laurent-de-Carnols
- Saint-Michel-d'Euzet
- Saint-Nazaire
- Saint-Paulet-de-Caisson
- Salazac
- In Venice
Residents of these municipalities will receive an alert message via the system FR-Alert at the start of the financial year. This message will inform them of the exercise, without requiring any action on their part.
Pont-Saint-Esprit at the heart of the real exercise
Among the municipalities involved, only Pont-Saint-Esprit will participate in an exercise in real conditions. The details of this scenario, deliberately kept secret, will make it possible to test the responsiveness and coordination of municipal services and residents in the face of a simulated nuclear emergency situation.
A national security issue
These exercises, organized periodically, aim to verify the effectiveness of security devices, communications and shelter or evacuation plans in the event of a crisis. They involve state services, local authorities, central teams, as well as observers to analyze and optimize procedures.
The Tricastin power plant, which is one of the major nuclear installations in France, is subject to strict controls to guarantee the safety of the surrounding populations. This type of exercise helps to strengthen the vigilance and preparation of local stakeholders in the face of potential risks.
A message for the population
Although these exercises may raise concerns, it is important to remember that they aim to protect populations and ensure effective management in the event of an emergency. Local and national authorities invite affected residents to remain attentive to the information disseminated and not to panic.
With this exercise, the Tricastin power plant reaffirms its commitment to the safety and security of its territory. Lessons learned will further improve resilience in the face of exceptional situations.
