Rosatom Project Aims to Reduce Reliance on Imported Technology
Rosatom's Institute of Physical and Technical Problems (IFTP) has begun work on establishing a unified industry-wide service center for spectrometers.
The new service model will cover equipment diagnostics, repairs and upgrades under a single contract. It is expected to address problems caused by the aging of imported instruments and equipment, as well as shortages of spare parts.
The Vulnerability of Imported Equipment
Nuclear power plants use hundreds of instruments to monitor coolant composition, analyze radioactive emissions and track environmental conditions. Alpha, beta and gamma spectrometers, along with mass spectrometry systems, help protect plant workers and nearby communities. Much of this equipment is imported. As it ages both physically and technologically, manufacturers are discontinuing support for older models.
The problem is aggravated by severe shortages of spare parts. Sanctions have disrupted supply chains, and even a basic repair kit can take months to arrive. When a spectrometer is out of service, it creates a blind spot in radiation monitoring, an unacceptable situation from a safety standpoint.
In the past, each nuclear power plant had to find its own contractors to service these instruments. This drove up costs and left the industry without consistent quality standards. The sector now needs a coordinated approach to keep spectrometers operating reliably under all conditions.
One Contract, One Accountable Service Provider
Experts discussed the initiative to establish a unified industry-wide service center in detail at the PPSR-2026 roundtable. Participants agreed that the previous approach to servicing equipment had run its course. The Institute of Physical and Technical Problems has taken on the role of systems integrator and single contractor for all nuclear power plants in Russia, drawing on its metrology facilities and team of qualified specialists.
The new approach is built around the principle of “one contract, one accountable provider.” Nuclear power plants will no longer need to sign dozens of separate contracts with different laboratories and suppliers. IFTP will establish a unified service network covering all customer needs. This will streamline paperwork and reduce the administrative burden on plant personnel.
The key change is in how equipment is maintained. The industry is moving away from fixing failures after they occur and toward scheduled preventive maintenance. The central service center is set to establish maintenance schedules for all plants, reserve the required materials in advance and take action before an instrument fails. This approach is expected to virtually eliminate system outages and optimize maintenance staffing.
In-Depth Upgrades and Reverse Engineering
The pilot project covers the full life cycle of spectrometric equipment. IFTP engineers perform initial diagnostics, metrological verification and instrument calibration in accredited laboratories. When necessary, equipment is repaired at the institute's specialized facilities in compliance with all applicable standards.
A major focus is upgrading aging imported systems. IFTP engineers integrate modern Russian-made components using reverse-engineering techniques. They adapt Russian detectors, data acquisition boards and power supply units to existing interfaces. This can extend the service life of the instruments by decades.
At the same time, the center is building up an inventory of critical spare parts. Maintaining its own stock of components allows it to respond quickly to service requests from nuclear power plants. This protects the industry from fluctuations in the electronics market and helps ensure that the necessary parts remain available, even for discontinued equipment models.
Digital Records and Predictive Analytics
A transition to a unified service center requires modern IT infrastructure. IFTP is building a centralized digital database covering Rosatom's entire fleet of spectrometric equipment. Each instrument will have an electronic record documenting its repair history, verification results and component replacements. The data will be synchronized automatically with the corporation's management systems.
The software calculates when the next maintenance service is due and generates work orders for service engineers. Management gains access to end-to-end analytics showing the actual condition of the equipment fleet.
As data on equipment failures accumulate, the center will be able to introduce predictive analytics capabilities. Algorithms will identify recurring failure patterns in specific spectrometer models and help engineers improve vulnerable components when designing new instruments.
