Experts Find Digital Tools Reduce Human-Error Risk at Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant
Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant has completed a targeted safety assurance review.
A commission from Rosenergoatom assessed the plant’s performance across eight functional areas and specifically highlighted operators’ use of electronic tablets during spent nuclear fuel handling operations.
Review Criteria and Methods
The commission included representatives from Rosenergoatom’s central office and professionals from three Russian nuclear power plants: Leningrad, Rostov and Balakovo. The review lasted two weeks. Experts used a methodology based on standards from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Association of Nuclear Operators. This allowed them to assess the plant’s compliance with Russian and international requirements.
Inspectors reviewed documentation, conducted daily walkdowns of plant facilities, interviewed staff and assessed the physical condition of equipment. The observation program included a general emergency response drill and an assessment of operators working in the unit control room. The commission evaluated the speed and accuracy of their responses to simulated abnormal situations.
Experts tested staff knowledge of instructions and procedures and asked how they would respond to emergency or abnormal situations. The commission also reviewed how training is organized on the full-scale simulator. Inspectors assessed how personnel practice reactor control skills in a virtual environment.
Similar targeted reviews are regularly conducted at all nuclear power plants – they help facilities share effective practices across Rosenergoatom’s branches. Experts identify successful approaches and replicate them at other plants operated by the company.
Digital Support for Plant Operations
The electronic tablets specifically highlighted by the commission are used in spent nuclear fuel handling. They support many plant operations: operators see a step-by-step checklist and record each stage of their work, while the system automatically logs the sequence of actions and the time each one takes.
This approach reduces the risk of human error. Paper instructions and separate logs have been replaced by mobile workstations with digital oversight. The tablets are used in areas where personnel work with radioactive materials and must strictly follow established procedures.
The Plant’s Strengths
In its preliminary report, the commission also highlighted other positive practices at the Smolensk plant. Its risk-management methodology within the plant management system received high marks. The facility uses the Derevo tseley (Goal Tree) system to monitor performance indicators, with all department heads involved in the process. This increases collective accountability for overall results and makes management more transparent.
Inspectors assessed the plant’s facilities and equipment as being in good condition and found a high level of safety culture among its staff. The plant takes a proactive approach to incidents – employees identify potential threats themselves before they develop into emergency situations.
Digital Tools as Workplace Factor
Today, digitalization is becoming part of nuclear safety-related operations. Nuclear facilities have moved from paper instructions and fragmented oversight toward mobile workstations, digital support for operations and structured data collection. In nuclear power, this approach is particularly important because human error can carry exceptionally high consequences.
This aligns with the broader digital transformation goals of Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant itself. In early 2025, the plant received bronze status as a Tsifrovoye PSR-predpriyatiye (Digital Rosatom Production System Enterprise), and in 2025–2026 it demonstrated digital tools for maintenance and repair, nuclear fuel handling, warehouse logistics and business process management. In particular, the plant uses machine vision elements in work involving the reactor’s graphite stack, as well as mobile workstations in warehouse logistics.
At the same time, IT will continue to play a supporting rather than fully autonomous role in nuclear power: digital tools should help professionals detect deviations and carry out procedures, while critical decisions remain with trained personnel. This cautious approach is consistent with the international position of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is advancing the use of AI while also drawing attention to the risks of applying it to nuclear safety.
