Rosenergoatom forecasts at least 220 billion kWh in 2026 after nine-month fleet review

Rosenergoatom expects electricity generation from Russia’s nuclear fleet to reach at least 220 billion kilowatt-hours by the end of 2026, according to a review of the first nine months reported by Rosatom on 23 October. The figure is the operator’s year-end outlook. The release does not give a numerical total for actual generation during the first nine months, so the annual expectation should not be presented as a nine-month result.

The review brought nuclear-station chief engineers to the Smolensk plant. Participants also included Rosenergoatom management, nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor and research and design institutes. Andrey Dementyev, the executive responsible for generation and nuclear-plant operation, said electricity output was running ahead of programme. The organisation did not publish a monthly generation series or quantify the gap between the programme and actual output.

Dementyev said reliability indicators had maintained their level from the previous year and identified the absence of violations associated with incorrect staff actions as a notable nine-month result. That statement concerns a particular category of violations reported by the operator. It should not be expanded into a claim that every type of incident was absent or that an independent safety audit had been completed.

Part of the meeting examined readiness for the autumn and winter peak in electricity demand. Participants discussed progress with technical measures and the reliability and stability of equipment operation. They also considered technical equipment for training units and centres to develop practical skills. These are preparedness activities; the announcement does not provide completed performance results for the winter period.

Rosatom said plants use video surveillance, machine vision and elements of artificial intelligence to prevent occupational-injury risks and assess work safety. In the described workflow, algorithms examine recorded workplace video streams, identify deviations and pass them to the relevant specialist. The release provides no accuracy or error rate for these systems and no statistical measurement of a reduction in accidents.

The fleet description in the same release says Rosenergoatom operates 34 units with combined capacity of 29.8 GW across 10 stations, including a floating nuclear heat-and-power plant. Rosatom says they generate about 19% of Russia’s electricity. Those capacity and unit figures describe the fleet covered by the announcement; they use different measures from the forecast of annual electricity generation.

The host Smolensk plant operates three units rated at 1,000 MW each, with annual generation described by the organisation as more than 20 billion kWh. A site tour examined production organisation, equipment servicing and the implementation of operating standards. These local-plant figures remain separate from the national fleet totals. The meeting documents technical review and preparation rather than a final annual generation outcome.