Rosatom to Build Russia’s Largest Uranium Processing Plant, With Robots Replacing Workers
State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom is designing a new hydrometallurgical plant at the Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (PIMCU) in Krasnokamensk, Zabaykalsky Krai.
The state-of-the-art facility will process uranium and uranium-molybdenum ores from the Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits, using robotic systems and end-to-end digitalization throughout its operations.
Two Independent Production Lines
The new facility will be Russia’s largest hydrometallurgical plant of its kind. The project calls for two independent production lines, each designed to produce approximately 5,500 metric tons of uranium oxide concentrate (U₃O₈) annually. This material is a primary feedstock for nuclear fuel production.
In the longer term, the plant will also be able to receive and process uranium concentrates from other Russian and international deposits developed by Rosatom’s mining division. This would turn the Krasnokamensk site into a versatile processing hub capable of adapting to changes in its raw material supply and logistics networks.
PIMCU is already Russia’s largest uranium mining enterprise. Bringing the new facilities online will complete the technological production chain within Zabaykalsky Krai, reducing the cost of transporting intermediate products and improving the overall economic efficiency of the entire industrial cluster.
A Digital Twin of the Production Facility
A digital twin of the plant’s production facilities will be a key tool in both its design and operation. The virtual replica will support the facility throughout its entire lifecycle.
During the planning stage, the digital environment makes it possible to simulate production processes before equipment is purchased. Process engineers can test different leaching conditions and identify optimal configurations in advance. This reduces commissioning risks and is intended to ensure that the plant reaches its design performance targets on schedule.
Once the plant is operational, its digital twin will also support predictive analytics. Algorithms will compare real-time readings from thousands of sensors with calculated values. If deviations occur, the system will forecast how the situation is likely to develop and recommend possible measures to management to prevent downtime and unplanned maintenance.
Robots Do the Work, Not People
Alongside economic efficiency, protecting personnel is another key priority in the plant’s design.
Hydrometallurgical operations involve aggressive chemical reagents and radioactive materials. Engineers are therefore focusing on automating as much of the production process as possible. Robotic systems will handle sampling, acid dosing, and filter equipment maintenance.
Deploying robots will minimize employees’ direct contact with hazardous substances and reduce the amount of strenuous manual work. Robotic manipulators equipped with machine vision systems will be able to identify container labels autonomously and operate tools with precision, even in confined plant spaces. This combination of robotic systems is expected not only to protect workers’ health but also to make production processes more predictable.
The plan also calls for end-to-end digitalization to connect robots, sensors, and control systems within a unified information environment. Dispatchers and other personnel responsible for operations will retain oversight of the entire processing cycle. If successful, the project could help establish a new safety benchmark for mining and chemical processing facilities.
A 40-Year Strategic Uranium Supply
Construction of the new plant is directly linked to the large-scale development of the Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits. The uranium grades in these deposits are significantly higher than those at PIMCU’s currently operating mines. To develop the deposits, the company is already building a new Mine No. 6, which will become a key part of the Zabaykalsky uranium cluster.
The reserves at the Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits are expected to meet the uranium requirements of Russia’s nuclear power industry for the next 40 years. The new plant will strengthen Rosatom’s ability to supply raw materials for its international projects. Having its own processing facilities will make long-term nuclear fuel supplies to overseas nuclear power plants more resilient. Rosatom could also export digital modeling packages, digital twins, production management systems, and predictive analytics solutions.
Integrating advanced IT solutions into the mining and chemical industries demonstrates the maturity of Russian technology development. The construction of a state-of-the-art hydrometallurgical plant equipped with a digital twin would further strengthen Russia’s position as a technology leader in the mining and processing of strategic raw materials.
