Luxembourg is taking part in exercises at a nuclear power station

On 4 and 5 June 2026, Luxembourg will take part in a major nuclear and civil security exercise organised by the French authorities at the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant (CNPE). These exercises are held every five years to comprehensively test the preparedness and coordination of relevant agencies in the event of a radiation threat. The exercises involve numerous units from both France and neighbouring countries – Luxembourg and Germany.

A key factor in ensuring the realism of the manoeuvres is that the fictional scenario is kept strictly confidential right up until the exercises begin. All that is known is that the emergency services will simulate a technical accident capable of leading to a release of radioactive substances. This approach allows international response mechanisms to be tested under conditions as close as possible to a real crisis. At the same time, the organisers emphasise that the general public will not be required to take any special action during the tests.

Luxembourg’s emergency response infrastructure will be fully activated from the very outset of the simulated incident. The Radiological Assessment Group (CER), responsible for the technical analysis of the situation, and the Crisis Cell (CC), which will convene at the National Crisis Centre (HCPN) to coordinate management decisions, will be deployed. The Communication and Information Cell (CCI) will be responsible for public information and ensuring consistency in statements. In addition, the Luxembourg authorities will send a liaison officer to Metz to liaise directly with their French counterparts, and key channels of communication will be maintained through regular video conferences.

In addition to refining internal procedures, the exercises are designed to reorganise and test the cross-border alert chain. Participants plan to conduct a detailed assessment of the practical implementation of the current government plan for radiation incidents and to improve the speed of data exchange. This initiative forms part of the National Resilience Strategy (SNR) and is being implemented under the ‘Lëtz prepare!’ programme, which aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to address large-scale man-made challenges through international partnership.