The Basic Services Sector of the National Committee for Emergency Management carried out an exercise to simulate a total power outage in the Musandam Governorate, with the participation of a number of sub-sectors (electricity, communications, water, sanitation, fuel and waste management), the medical response sector, public health, port authorities, and Oman Airports.
During the exercise, business continuity and emergency response plans were activated for the participating sectors and entities, to achieve several goals, including raising the level of coordination and readiness, identifying tasks that need review, developing action plans, and drawing lessons learned with the participating sectors and entities.
Dr Mansour bin Talib al Hinai (pictured), Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) and Head of the Basic Services Sector, said that the implementation of these exercises is part of efforts to ensure the sustained performance of the energy system in the Sultanate of Oman. The overall goal is to boost the readiness of various agencies to respond to emergencies, evaluate existing policies and strengthen interagency coordination in dealing with contingencies effectively.
The drill also aims to raise the level of preparedness of the basic services sector, enable the equipment and training of participating entities, get the various subsectors to be familiar with strategic preparedness plans, and to keep them abreast of developments in emergency preparedness globally.
Similar simulations, albeit staged in indoor formats, are planned on August 23 in Dhofar Governorate, and for partial outages in the wilayats of Muscat and Suhar on October 24.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
