IAEA experts remaining at Zaporizhzhya NPP to be subject to rotation - Enerhodar head

ENERHODAR. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Two experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are staying at the nuclear power plant in Enerhodar in the Russia-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhya region; the team is subject to periodical rotation, Enerhodar administration head Alexander Volga told Interfax.

"Two persons are staying. They will be monitoring the safe operation of the nuclear power plant. On the orders from the mission and [IAEA Director General] Mr. Grossi, they will maintain permanent presence, and these people will periodically be replaced. He has kept his word, the mission will be permanent," Volga said.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry and the Enerhodar authorities, the attacks on the nuclear power plant and the infrastructure used by its personnel have been practically daily since the middle of summer. The attacks have not disrupted operation of the reactor units but have done damage to auxiliary systems and the area near the radioactive isotope storage site has been hit.

The IAEA mission visited the nuclear power plant in Enerhodar on September 1. Some members of the mission, including Grossi, left Enerhodar in the evening of the same day. Several IAEA experts departed on September 5, and two specialists stayed.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. It operates six VVER-1000 power units, the first of which was put into operation in December 1984 and the sixth in October 1995.

According to the regional authorities, in recent days, the fifth and the sixth power units have run at 60% and 80% of their capacity, respectively. The suspension of power supply to Ukraine due to technical problems was reported on September 3.