DISASTER MANAGEMENT AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FUKUSHIMA AND PAKISTAN

Abstract

Abstract

The dangers of nuclear tragedy are in debate since the first nuclear reactor was built in 1942. Any disaster can be hard to handle but a nuclear disaster requires even more complex management apparatus. In history there have been many nuclear tragedies at NPPs including the severe nuclear disasters of Three Miles Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986). However Fukushima Daiichi disaster (2011) which was ignited by earthquake accompanied tsunami hoisted multiple apprehensions about safety of NPPs. Japan being an exceedingly well-organized nation towards managing natural disasters and upholding nuclear safety, found it difficult to manage the nuclear catastrophe. Pakistan has so far avoided any nuclear debacle and has a Nuclear Emergency Response Plan (NERP) prepared by Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), Strategic Plans Division (SPD) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). However in case of any tragedy, Nuclear Emergency Management System (NEMS), National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and other organizations will launch an integrated response. A clear account does not necessarily certify that a nuclear tragedy cannot take place in future. In spite of these facts, serious concerns have been expressed after Fukushima nuclear disaster on Pakistan’s capability to handle any plausible nuclear disaster; therefore the critical examination of Pakistan’s nuclear disaster management is imperative for both authenticating the official stance of Pakistan as well as judging the validity of criticism levelled against the Pakistani nuclear
industry’s disaster mismanagement apparatus. The research thus aims to investigate the Pakistani nuclear establishment