Austria is practicing the blackout

From today, the 13th, until the 15th of May 2019, the strategic crisis exercise "Helios" will take place at the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Approximately 100 representatives from federal ministries, states, emergency organizations, and critical infrastructure facilities will participate.

The scenario for the exercise is a Europe-wide electricity shortage or subsequent power blackout, affecting many societal and life areas, as well as various ministries, federal states, emergency organizations, and critical infrastructure. "There is almost no area of life that is not dependent on electricity, and we want to anticipate how we can best deal with an electricity shortage, especially at the federal level," said Robert Stocker, Head of Department II/13 SKKM - State Crisis and Disaster Management and Civil Security Coordination at the Ministry of the Interior during a background conversation on May 10, 2019.

The aim of the three-day exercise is for each ministry, federal state, emergency organization, and critical infrastructure operator to recognize areas where they can improve their resilience. "This resilience needs to be examined internally and also at the national level," said Stocker. Therefore, it is important for political leaders to have this awareness. For this reason, on the third day of the exercise, the federal government will be involved. "Government members will receive a situational overview, and consultations will be held on the coordination and alignment needs at the political level among the ministries and state governments," Stocker said.

Focus on Ministry Collaboration

One ministry that played a significant role in the preparation and design of the crisis exercise is the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT). Michael Losch, Head of Section 6 (Energy and Mining) at the BMNT, sees the focus of the exercise in the collaboration between different ministries and Austrian actors. "In energy matters, European integration is important, and Austria plays an important role due to its central location," said Losch. "This European integration will not be simulated during this three-day exercise."

Another significant player in energy matters - and also in the crisis exercise - is the grid operator Austrian Power Grid AG (APG). "We connect the individual power grids, operate the lines to other countries, and thus contribute to the supply security in Austria," said Kurt Misak, Head of Supply Security at the APG. "Austria has a supply security of 99.9% in electricity supply. We are among the top in Europe," Misak said. Due to its geographical location in the center of Europe, Austria is also crucial for pan-European supply security. "Therefore, the exercise scenario is simple but very suitable for creating an Austrian crisis scenario, involving virtually all key partners," Misak said.

Crisis Team at the Ministry of the Interior

In crises and disasters, there is an increased need for coordination, which is ensured in Austria by the State Crisis and Disaster Management (SKKM). The Ministry of the Interior has a coordinating role in this.

During the three-day exercise "Helios", a crisis team will be established at the Ministry of the Interior, and the SKKM Coordination Committee will be convened. In total, approximately 100 representatives from federal ministries, states, emergency organizations, and critical infrastructure facilities will work together. The team will gather all information and create a national situational picture, based on which decisions can be prepared in the Coordination Committee, to be then made and implemented within the responsibilities of the ministries or states - "so that we in Austria can pull together in the same direction," said Stocker.

"Helios" allows, for the first time, to bring together all important and relevant players, organizations, and institutions within the "SKKM family" across all boundaries of authority and ministries for strategic coordination. The goal is to practice networking and collaboration in case of an emergency.

The Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior online: www.bmi.gv.at