Leningrad NPP’s Digital Technologies Help Train International Professionals
The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant hosted a delegation of participants in a nuclear energy management program organized by Rosatom’s Technical Academy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Executives from nuclear companies and energy agencies in 13 countries studied Russian approaches to personnel training and evaluated virtual simulators capable of modeling any abnormal operating scenario.
Sharing Expertise as Part of Rosatom’s Strategy
The educational program was organized by Rosatom’s Technical Academy in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Department of Nuclear Energy. Representatives from 13 countries, including Armenia, Brazil, Ethiopia and Uzbekistan, traveled to Sosnovy Bor to take part.
This visit is just one link in a much broader chain of cooperation. Countries new to nuclear power face an acute shortage of qualified engineers and operators. Rosatom has therefore made workforce training a key part of its international offering, alongside equipment supplies and assistance with nuclear power plant construction. The Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in Turkey is a prominent example of this approach. Under the Russian model, training and simulation units are established while the first reactor units are still being built. This ensures that, by the time a reactor begins operating, a well-coordinated team that has completed a full training program is already in place.
Digital Simulators and Virtual Reality
To train international personnel, Rosatom’s organizations use full-scope simulators that replicate nuclear power plant control rooms. These are precise digital twins of actual reactor units. The simulators’ algorithms calculate highly complex physical processes in real time, allowing operators to practice both normal operations and abnormal scenarios.
Foreign delegates were particularly interested in the use of virtual reality headsets. The technology gives the impression of being inside the containment structure and other restricted areas of a nuclear power plant, where access is strictly prohibited while the reactor is operating because of high radiation levels. In the virtual environment, engineers can examine the internal design of steam generators, circulation pumps and pipelines in detail.
Virtual tours are used to train maintenance personnel and develop practical skills. Instructors simulate coolant leaks or failures of auxiliary equipment, while operators learn to make decisions under stress and time pressure. The simulators automatically record every action taken by a trainee, generate a log and identify errors.
As personnel training technologies for Russia’s nuclear industry continue to advance, the IT sector is also positioned to expand its work on new digital simulators, process modeling systems, knowledge-testing tools and professional competency assessment systems.
Experience for International Nuclear Projects
Rosatom’s cooperation with international partners has a long history. The state corporation’s Technical Academy already has experience training personnel for projects in Turkey, Bangladesh, Hungary and Egypt. Training formats vary and can include classroom instruction, simulator-based exercises and programs to train national instructors.
Uzbekistan is now a promising focus of joint work. In partnership with the Russian state corporation, the country is pursuing a large-scale project to establish its national nuclear power industry. Plans call for the construction of two small-capacity reactor units using RITM-200N reactors and two large-capacity units equipped with VVER-1000 reactors. The nuclear power plant is expected to generate 17.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Agency for Atomic Energy praised the expertise of Russian nuclear professionals and emphasized that their experience in nuclear knowledge management and the development of domestic simulator facilities is critical.
Following their visit to the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, the international delegations agreed to adapt Russian practices for their own regions. Personnel training systems developed around Rosatom’s training and simulation units are expected to provide a foundation for the safe expansion of nuclear power worldwide.
Russia has thus demonstrated that it can export not only technological solutions but also accumulated expertise, training methods and support services for nuclear projects. Replicating Russian training standards helps reduce the risk of delays when international nuclear power plants enter service. Partner countries gain access to ready-to-use training materials, software and programs for retraining instructors.
