Natech risk assessment with RAPID-N: Giurgiulesti International Free Port

Natural hazards can trigger major accidents, such as fires, explosions and toxic releases at establishments that process, store or transport dangerous substances. These technological side effects of natural-hazard impacts are called “Natech” accidents. While awareness of Natech risk is growing, there is still a lack of methodologies, tools and guidance for Natech risk assessment which is, however, a pre-requisite for increasing the resilience of industrial installations to natural-hazard impact. In the absence of such an assessment, important risk contributors might not be identified and preparedness levels will be low.

The project “Implementation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism 2014-2020 for strengthening risk governance and chemical accident prevention and preparedness in Enlargement Countries and European Neighbourhood Policy Countries in support of Seveso directive implementation” helps EU neighbourhood countries in building greater capacity to control their chemical and Natech risks.

In the frame of this project, a study was carried out which analysed and mapped the earthquake Natech risk to Giurgiulesti International Free Port in the Republic of Moldova using the JRC’s RAPID-N system for rapid Natech risk assessment and mapping. The site is subject to a significant earthquake hazard, and is located at the junction between the Danube and the Prut Rivers. It is also close to the Romanian and Ukrainian border and has a high potential for trans-boundary effects in case of Natech accidents, particularly in case of hydrocarbon spills into the Danube.

[The rest of the abstract is confidential]