Katmal Limited

16/03/2026

Interesting: A revision of REPPIR-19 in the pipeline according to the government response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025

Recommendation 34
Proportionate Outline Planning Zones and Detailed Emergency Planning Zones under Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations) 2019 (REPPIR19)

We agree with this recommendation and policy delivery is already underway. Experts commissioned by DESNZ have identified alternative arrangements for determining outline planning zones (OPZs). We will discuss with relevant stakeholders, and are already preparing options, each designed to ensure our approach is robust, evidence-based and appropriate for both Gigawatt Reactors (GW) and SMR/AMRs and work with MoD for their assets.

We will also amend REPPIR19 and its associated guidance. This work is already underway as part of a broader programme of improvements. Doing this, as well as introducing an appeals process, will require amendments to legislation. Changes to
guidance to encourage site operators to take advantage of existing regulatory options to propose site-specific OPZs can be delivered in parallel, assisting operators while amended legislation is delivered.

12/03/2026

In a bit of a change of direction I've invested in the PACE code from UKHSA to explore the options of adding high quality atmospheric dispersion calculations to the offering I make to customers.

Back to my roots as a mathematical modeller and off-site dose assessment expert with any luck.

It also means that I have ArcGIS which is an amazing program with staggering amounts of data freely available. I'm going to enjoy learning how to use it.

09/01/2026

Good to see the Government Alert System being put to good use although it didn't stop the storm damaging my daughter's garden. Interesting feedback in the local news. I hope there is a post-use washup and picks up any learning.

Some people have said they "jumped out of their skins"

13/12/2025

This is an interesting article. I'm not at all sure that I've extracted as much learning from the Fukushima experience as I should have done.

There is a lot we can learn from from about post-accident situations; how people react, what tools and skills you need to understand the situation and its consequences and to communicate that to the public and decision makers, how the radionuclides settle in the environment with all its variability and so on.

This can help us prepare. We should be taking notes.

In Fukushima Prefecture, the region which experienced a nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, emergency response specialists from Ukraine, Southeast Asia and Australia converged for a week-long IAEA technical training on radiological emergency monitoring.  

28/10/2025

Rolls Royce have been telling us for years that they have a mature design SRM that is ready to build. Now they tell us they have to design the steam generators. What else needs designing? What are the program risks?

Rolls-Royce SMR of the UK has signed a contract and memorandum of understanding with Canadian nuclear engineering firm BWX Technologies Inc to support future collaboration on the development of the Rolls-Royce SMR.  ;

27/10/2025

Good to see some thought being given to how drones can contribute to an emergency response. We've all got ideas but we need someone to have a close look at how to make it happen. One to watch.

Somerset council wins funding to lead a pioneering drones project for disaster response and environmental protection in the county

21/10/2025

I like this graphic from the new IAEA publication GSG-19 but think that resuspension should point back into the plume rather than being a secondary inhalation route. I should get out more.

15/10/2025

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/exercise-in-a-box/overview
The government are putting a lot of resource into helping companies fight cybercrime. This is a potentially useful tool from NCSC.

A free resource to help organisations rehearse their response to cyber attacks.

15/10/2025

A succinct description of the ICRP system of Radiological Protection has just been published. This supports justification, optimisation, and application of dose limit citing science, ethics, and experience and the LNT down to low doses.

A good read (and short)

Essentials of the system of radiological protection, Rühm, Werner, Applegate, Kimberly, Ban, Nobuhiko, Bochud, Francois, Bouffler, Simon, Cho, Kun-Woo, Clement, Chris, Gallego, Eduardo, German, Olga, Hirth, Gillian, Hosono, Makoto, Kai, Michiaki, Laurier, Dominique, Liu, Senlin, Martinez, Nicole E,...

14/10/2025

HM Government have today written to all FTSE100 and 250 firms strongly advising them to renew their focus on cyber crime. Suggesting a three pronged approach.

I've recently been advising a large Company on the role of their executive in crisis management. Cyber seems to be the highest risk - scoring highly in both probability and consequence.

We ran a short cyber attack exercise in which we learned a lot.

It will be interesting to see how computer and corporate systems evolve to be more resilient over the next few years Can developments outrun the hackers?

Ministers and security chiefs have written to leading UK companies about cyber security.

16/08/2025

There is a consultation out on Police Operations and Response. I'm not going to have anything to say to them but the discussion document is a great review of the Police response to a major incident. It is well written with links that take you deeper if you want to go.

Actually a very good read for anyone who might be working alongside the police in planning for or responding to a serious incident.

We’re consulting on updated guidance for operations and response