Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant Completes Overhaul and Major Upgrades
Work has been completed on all three operating units at the plant, and the plant's generating units are ready for the fall-winter period. The most significant technological upgrade was the installation of a permanent vibration monitoring system on electric pumps.
During scheduled maintenance, plant personnel carried out in-vessel inspections of the reactor's process channels and the condition of the graphite stack in the RBMK-1000 reactor. They also replaced selected channels in the control and protection systems.
Engineers repaired pumping equipment and upgraded the bearing cooling circuits. The turbines of units No. 5 and 6 underwent major overhauls of their high- and low-pressure cylinders. Turbine unit No. 5 was returned to the grid four days ahead of schedule, allowing the plant to generate additional electricity.
Plant personnel also upgraded the generator-voltage switchgear, the emergency power supply systems for diesel generators, and the automatic control systems for the turbine-generators. This comprehensive maintenance program reduced the risk of unplanned equipment outages during periods of peak demand on the power grid.
Keeping Vibration Under Control
The most significant development in industrial automation was the installation of a permanent vibration monitoring system on the electric pumps. Sensors continuously track vibration, detecting even the slightest deviations from established operating parameters.
The continuous stream of data helps identify early signs of bearing wear, imbalance in rotating components and other abnormalities. This reduces the risk of unplanned equipment shutdowns and allows maintenance to be scheduled more effectively.
The module creates a digital operating history that serves as a basis for assessing equipment condition. By analyzing accumulated data, engineers can track changes over time and decide when preventive maintenance is needed based on actual operating measurements.
Moving Toward Predictive Diagnostics
The introduction of vibration monitoring at Smolensk NPP is part of a broader digitalization program across Russia’s nuclear power industry. In October 2026, pilot operation of the AtomMind predictive analytics platform began at Novovoronezh, Leningrad and Beloyarsk nuclear power plants. Its machine-learning algorithms analyze equipment operating parameters and forecast potential malfunctions.
Monitoring systems are becoming an important source of data for these intelligent platforms. Over time, integrating diagnostic systems with predictive analytics will make it possible to estimate equipment service life and optimize maintenance schedules. This could significantly reduce repair costs.
Russian developers already have the expertise to build integrated hardware and software systems for vibration monitoring. Similar systems were commissioned at the Petrozavodskmash plant in 2023, providing further evidence of the capabilities of Russia’s domestic industrial diagnostics sector.
Expanding Generating Capacity
Upgrades to operating units are proceeding alongside preparations to build new generating capacity. In November 2026, Russia’s Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) confirmed that Rosenergoatom was ready to begin construction of two units at Smolensk NPP-2, equipped with VVER-OPTIMUM reactors.
The new plant is intended to replace existing generating capacity in stages as the operating units reach the end of their service lives. Monitoring and automation systems being introduced today are helping build the expertise that will soon be needed to develop next-generation nuclear power plants.
Smolensk NPP supplies more than 20 billion kWh of electricity to the grid each year. Its three RBMK-1000 units, each with an electrical capacity of 1,000 MW, are an important part of the power infrastructure serving central Russia. Timely maintenance and equipment upgrades help ensure reliable electricity supplies for industry and households in Smolensk Region and neighboring regions.
