Robots to Be Used in Reactor Dismantling at Leningrad NPP
Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant in Sosnovy Bor is preparing for one of the most complex phases in its history – the decommissioning of its first two RBMK units.
Full dismantling is scheduled to begin in 2027 and continue through 2053–2054. This will be the first project of this scale in Russia where specialized robotic systems will operate in high-radiation environments.
From Shutdown to Dismantling
The first unit at Leningrad NPP was commissioned in 1973 and operated for nearly 16 years beyond its design lifetime, until December 2018. The second unit ceased generation in 2020. Over decades of operation, the two reactors generated about 280 billion kWh of electricity.
Following shutdown, preparations for decommissioning began: all fuel has been removed, and part of the equipment has been transferred to other facilities in the nuclear industry, including Rosenergoatom’s equipment reserve pool. The project is now entering the dismantling phase, which requires precision and extensive work, as well as the use of new technologies.
The most challenging part is the graphite stack inside the reactor, which contains a large graphite moderator stack. Over years of operation, the graphite has accumulated significant radioactivity and cannot be decontaminated in practice. Conventional cleaning methods are not suitable: the graphite is bulky, fragile, and built into the reactor structure.
As a result, the only viable approach is to cut the graphite into sections and place them in containers for long-term storage. However, these operations cannot be done manually: radiation levels in the central reactor hall remain hazardous even years after shutdown.
Robots Working Alongside Personnel
To address this, specialized robotic manipulators are being developed that can operate in high-radiation environments without direct human presence. These systems will be equipped with remote-control systems, machine vision systems, and cutting and handling tools. They are being designed specifically for this task at Leningrad NPP, tailored to the RBMK reactor configuration.
The use of robotics reduces risks to personnel and improves precision. Automated systems can reduce the volume of secondary radioactive waste and reduce time spent operating in high-radiation areas.
In addition to robotics, dismantling will involve plasma cutting and wire saw cutting for large components in reactor buildings. Metal and concrete structures will be decontaminated using ultrasonic methods, specialized chemical agents, and abrasive blasting.
The project is structured in two phases: first, dismantling of auxiliary systems and buildings, followed by dismantling of the reactor itself, scheduled for 2035–2042.
Completing the Decommissioning Process
An earlier option to place the units in safe enclosure for several decades was considered. However, it was rejected: maintaining shut-down units would have cost 3.5 times more, and the site would have remained potentially unsafe due to waste storage areas. Full dismantling is considered a more responsible and economically justified approach.
At the same time, construction continues at Leningrad NPP-2, where new VVER-1200 reactor units are being built. This maintains regional power supply balance and allows a gradual transition from older to newer capacity. Leningrad NPP is being used as a pilot site to develop decommissioning technologies that could be used at other RBMK plants, including those in Smolensk and Kursk.
