Natural Hazards and Disaster Management

Biography

Biography: Constantinos S Psomopulos

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Since 2005, the European Program for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) is the main policy initiative at European Union (EU) level, while Directive 2008/114/EC, "the EPCIP Directive", is the most representative legal instrument about this issue. According to the Directive 2008/114/EC, as critical infrastructure we define an asset, system or part thereof located in Member States which is essential for the maintenance of vital societal functions, health, safety, security, economic or social well-being of people, and the disruption or destruction of which would have a significant impact in a Member state as a result of the failure to maintain those functions. The energy sector is closely related with critical infrastructure protection focusing on the society protection, by protecting the energy suppliers, services and customers. This is achieved using preventive physical, cyber and operational security measures.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: This work presents a study about EU legislation in terms of the impact of natural hazards on the critical energy infrastructure protection considering the EU energy infrastructure program, the increasing energy demand and renewable energy sources penetration, and the experience from large scale electricity blackouts.

Findings: EC legislation provides a comprehensive view of all the problems and tasks involved at critical infrastructure protection. Despite all the efforts devoted to improving the legislation, there is a need for a more comprehensive legal framework related with the natural hazards in electricity networks.

Conclusion & Significance: Although EC legislation about critical energy infrastructure protection is steadily increased over the years, the substantial natural hazards impact in electricity systems needs to be more carefully addressed.