Usakos:Erongo The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) is undertaking a significant exercise to test the efficiency of international inspectors in locating and verifying suspected nuclear explosions within an area covering approximately 900 square kilometers in Erongo. This initiative, part of the Integrated Field Exercise (IFE26), aims to identify gaps in current inspection procedures and improve equipment and personnel readiness.

According to Namibia Press Agency, CTBTO exercise manager Elran Ben-Or stated that the exercise is crucial for assessing the organization's capability to respond effectively to a suspected nuclear explosion. The inspection zone extends from the Erongo Mountains to Usakos near the Valencia mine, where various techniques are being deployed to locate potential sites flagged by international monitoring systems.

Ben-Or highlighted the challenges faced by monitoring stations, which can detect seismic events but may have location estimates with an error margin of up to 80 kilometers. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the precise location of suspected underground nuclear explosions. The exercise, based on a fictional scenario, involves no actual nuclear testing or radioactive materials and includes overflights to identify suspicious features before ground investigations.

Participants from around 70 countries are partaking in this international operation, which began in Vienna, Austria, before moving personnel and equipment to Namibia. This marks the third integrated field exercise by the CTBTO, with Namibia being the first African host, following exercises in Kazakhstan and Jordan.

The exercise also evaluates international coordination, focusing on how inspection teams interact with a simulated state under investigation and the procedures for gaining access to inspection areas. Magdalena Shipiki, Namibia's co-chair for the exercise, noted that Namibia's leadership roles in international disarmament forums contributed to its selection as host. The event also offers opportunities for local experts, including personnel from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, to engage in the scientific and operational aspects of the exercise.