About

Period: 24-25 June 2025

Organizer: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Host country: Romania (National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control – CNCAN and Department for Emergency Situations – DSU)

Location: Cernavodă NPP, Constanța County, Ciolpani, Bucharest.

Short description: The IAEA is set to conduct a large-scale Level 3 Convention Exercise, ConvEx-3 (2025), on 24-25 June 2025.
The exercise, the seventh in the ConvEx-3 series, is hosted by Romania and will simulate a severe nuclear emergency at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, offering States and international organizations an unmatched opportunity to test their emergency response systems.

ConvEx – Convention Exercises, test the operational arrangements of the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. Conducted in EOCs and the field under simulated conditions, they are a robust and effective way to test plans and procedures in a practical manner at all levels. Their goal is to evaluate and further improve the international framework for emergency preparedness and response.

These exercises are designed to evaluate the response to a major nuclear or radiological accident, with a focus on the exchange of information, assessment and prognosis processes, provision of international assistance, coordination of public information, and inter-agency response. They serve as an important opportunity to identify deficiencies in both national and international emergency preparedness and response arrangements that could hinder effective response measures aimed at minimizing the consequences of an emergency.

ConvEx-3 are organized by the IAEA every three to five years and are largescale joint international exercises that take place during the early phase of a severe nuclear or radiological emergency in a Member State. The overarching objectives of the ConvEx-3 exercise are to enable States and relevant international organizations to test their responses to severe nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, which could result from accidents, natural disasters, negligence, or security events. The exercise also aims to evaluate the international emergency management system and identify good practices, as well as pinpoint weaknesses and areas needing improvement that might not be otherwise recognized.

ConvEx-3 (2025) will introduce three key elements:

• Regional collaboration approach (with Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova),
• Nuclear security components (cybersecurity and physical protection),
• Integrated method of planning, conducting, and evaluating the exercise.

Roles assigned to exercise participants: Actors, Players, Controllers, Evaluators, Observers

Support roles: Media Team, Logistics, Organisation

• Evaluate Emergency Response Arrangements
• Improving Coordination and Communication with other member states, international organizations, and the IAEA
• Engage with International Partners, Validate International Commitments

Institutions at the National Level

Institutions within the Central Public Administration

• Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations
  • Department for Emergency Situations
  • General Directorate for Operational Management
  • General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police
  • General Inspectorate of Border Police
  • General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie
  • General Aviation Inspectorate
• Ministry of National Defense
• National Cybersecurity Directorate
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
• Ministry of Health
  • National Institute of Public Health
• Ministry of Environment, Waters, and Forests
  • National Environmental Protection Agency
  • National Meteorology Administration
• National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority
• Ministry of Energy
  • Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency
• Romanian Intelligence Service
• Special Telecommunications Service

Institutions and Facilities in the Nuclear Field

• National Company NUCLEARELECTRICA S.A.
  • Cernavodă NPP Subsidiary
  • FCN Pitești (Nuclear Fuel Factory)
• RATEN – Institute for Nuclear Research Pitești
• IFIN-HH

Institutions at the Local Level

• Prefecture of Constanța County
• City Hall of Cernavodă

Hospitals

• Bucharest Emergency Clinical Hospital

• Bucharest University Emergency Hospital

International Organizations

• Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria Nuclear Regulatory Agency
• Canada – Health Canada, Radiation Protection Bureau
• France – Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety
• Lithuania – Radiation Protection Centre and Ministry of the Interior
• Republic of Moldova – Inspectoratul General Pentru Situații de Urgență
• U.S.A. – U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration
• Sweden– The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority

Exercise Planning Committee

• IAEA
• CNCAN
• MAI
  • DSU
  • DGMO
  • IGSU
• Ministry of Health
• Nuclear Power Plant (CNE Cernavoda)

Exercise Scenario Group

• IAEA
• CNCAN
• Nuclear Power Plant (CNE Cernavoda)
• IFIN-HH
• Ministry of Health
• National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC)

Exercise Logistic Group

• CNCAN
• MAI
• Nuclear Power Plant (CNE Cernavoda)

Exercise Control & Evaluation Group

• IAEA
• CNCAN
• MAI
• Ministry of Health
• National Environmental Protection Agency
• Nuclear Power Plant (CNE Cernavoda)
• IFIN-HH
• …