FREDERICTON – Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power plant is generating power again after it was forced offline because of startup problems.
The Point Lepreau generating station in New Brunswick stopped sending electricity to the province’s power grid almost three weeks ago so that it could adjust the chemistry of the water in boilers.
NB Power spokeswoman Kathleen Duguay said the water was disturbed when power levels were lowered a number of times due to a refuelling issue.
Refuelling has been slow because plugs at each end of the fuel channels are too tight.
The Crown-owned utility says the reactor is currently running at 35 per cent capacity and fuelling will resume in the coming week.
NB Power president Gaetan Thomas says such issues are to be expected in a plant that has been recently refurbished.
The reactor returned to service last November following an overhaul that began in 2008.
Thomas says the facility is safe and the problems won’t affect power rates.
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