A preliminary view on emergency preparedness and response plan (EPR) framework for nuclear plant safety in Malaysia

Abstract

Nuclear fuel had been identified as one of renewable energy resources in the Fifth Fuel Policy in National Fuel Policy back in 2000 as described [1-3]. These improvements had been done in order to overcome energy crises in Malaysia. In the near future, hopefully, our nation may endure any current and future energy crisis according to effective and efficient energy mix plan [1, 2]. Recently, Malaysia is deploying nuclear energy for power generation in order to build a sustainable energy platform for a high-income economy growth. Therefore, Malaysia is looking forward to improve its energy security and efficiency programme [4]. These attempts are also including Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) since 2002 as one of the programme stakeholders as a research and development institute in recognizing the importance of the development of nuclear power plant (NPP) in Malaysia. As a Nuclear Malaysia staff, from previous findings the researcher identified that the most significant current discussions in NPP development is nuclear safety and emergency management. Most likely, Malaysians are concerned on highlighted NPP development syndrome and also focused key public acceptance and risk perception issues respectively such as an accident anywhere is an accident everywhere [5] and also nuclear plant safety and accident risks issues consists of the safety guarantee and assurance and also the sufficiency of the safety policy aspects [3, 6, 7] which includes several recognized main gaps internally as described [3, 8-11]. These findings are also supported by previous studies over the decades in proposing and implementing applicable models and approaches [12-25]. Furthermore, nuclear safety is about activities that relates with the designing, constructing and operating nuclear facilities which ensures protection of the individuals, society and the environment from radiological consequences by establishing and maintaining effective defences as described [26-29]. These outlined activities involve participations and response from many organizations as emergency management key players in the development of radiological plans to identify potential radiological hazards and to inform the public and emergency workers for being able to respond to nuclear and radiological incidents and accidents [28-30]. This type of emergency management requires emergency preparedness and response plan as follows. Emergency preparedness and response plan (EPR) is highly regulated in any NPPs and research reactors. Emergency preparedness requires the application of preparations to be made in advance of any emergency in order to ensure that there is capability to meet the response requirements whereby emergency response is conducted to apply the performance of critical functions or tasks in an emergency as described [26-29]. EPR principles are outlined by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based on International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) as described [3, 10, 13, 27, 31]. Similar act and regulations also localized under Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304) under authority of Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and Malaysia Ministry of Health among others as described [28, 29]. Due to good emergency preparedness conducted by these key players in advance of an emergency can significantly improve the emergency response. As a result, these key players developed better integration through clear plan of responsibility and authority [13]. The aim of this study is to fulfil improvements on safety requirements towards Malaysia‟s first future NPP development following to the discussions mentioned above. Therefore, this attempt may focus on the research objective in revising current EPR plan intentionally from the previously laid out critical analysis of literatures. The findings will be described furthermore using Soft System Methodology (SSM) as a lens to view the whole situation involved.