A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) started observing and monitoring the preparation work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant yesterday before the plant starts operation.

This is a pre-visit of the IAEA experts at the country's first nuclear power plant in Pabna, said Zahedul Hasan, project director of the Rooppur plant.

The 12-member team headed by Yury Martynenko reached the project site Saturday night and began their inspection the next morning and will continue until March 13 to observe all the preparation work, officials said.

IAEA experts and project officials held a meeting yesterday.

Project Director Zahedul Hasan said that there are a series of steps that need to be taken before starting operation at the power plant.

He said, "We have almost completed necessary structural and equipment work at Unit-1. The IAEA team will monitor the entire preparation before it goes into operation."

"During their five-day visit, the experts will observe and monitor the structural, technical, and equipment-related preparation and documentation. Following their reports, we will go for the next step," he added.

The construction and installation work at Unit-1 of the plant has almost been completed, but generating power from the nuclear plant is still far away, he added.

"Before starting power generation through machinery, we have to check the power transmission facility and perform other necessary tests. We need two months to finish the series of tests," the official said.

He added, "After completing the series of tests, we will go ahead with loading fuel and process the assembled fuel in the reactor building, which needs another three months."

News Link: IAEA team visits Rooppur nuclear plant