The Point Lepreau nuclear generating station is back online after a two-week shutdown.
NB Power said the plant was taken off-line on Sept. 11 after monitoring elevated levels of tritium in the reactor building.
According to the utility, the source of the issue was an instrumentation line in the primary heat transport system.
The issue was contained and NB Power said there was no risk to the public or environment.
The plant came back online on Saturday.
The company behind Point Lepreau’s CANDU reactor is expanding to Saint John as it looks to strengthen support for the generating station and grow its presence in New Brunswick’s nuclear sector.
Last month, Candu Energy announced it will open a new office in the city.
Vice-President of Key Account and Stakeholder Management for AtkinsRéalis— the parent company of Candu Energy — Maura McDonald said a stronger presence in the province will make them better able to support the station.
“I think you have really strong players at Point Lepreau working hard for their station every day, and for New Brunswickers, and making sure they care deeply about the reliability of that station,” she said. “But I also think it’s the responsibility of the supply chain, suppliers like ourselves, the OEM of the CANDU product to stand behind the reliability of that station as well.”
For the past couple of years, the nuclear energy station has experienced several unplanned shutdowns due to its aging equipment and post-maintenance failures.
In the past two months, Lapreau had two unplanned shutdowns. One on Aug. 31 to repair a gasket in its turbine system on the non-nuclear side of the plant, and a second one on Sept.1, to repair a small instrumentation line inside the reactor building.
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“We are consistently speaking with Lepreau about increasing our presence in the area and our support for the station and making sure that we pursue is deeply what we need so that we are compatible and aligned,” added McDonald.
In discussions with NB Power, McDonald said AtkinsRéalis identified Saint John as a strong location for expansion, citing the potential to support the city’s economy and broader growth in the region.
The new office at Market Square will create 15 to 18 jobs, including engineering, administrative, indigenous relations support, business development, and project execution positions, she said.
McDonald explained they are working on renovating the space and intend to hire at least eight engineering experts by 2027.
In an email statement, NB Power spokesperson Elizabeth Fraser-McAllister said the utility welcomes Candu Energy’s decision to establish a presence in Saint John.
“The move reflects the strength of New Brunswick’s nuclear sector and the expertise that has been developed over more than 40 years through the successful operation of Point Lapreau,” she wrote.
Fraser-McAllister added that they expect Candu Energy’s local presence will create additional opportunities for collaboration, relationship-building and engagement with New Brunswickers.
“Our continued working relationship with Candu Energy remains grounded in our shared commitment to safe, reliable nuclear operations and the development of nuclear expertise in Canada,” she said.
McDonald said AtkinsRéalis is open to support other initiatives in the province, which could include the production of medical isotopes.
According to McDonald, CANDU is the only commercial-scale reactor that can deliver isotopes, and it has a presence worldwide.
Medical isotopes are tools in nuclear medicine used to diagnose, monitor, and treat a wide variety of conditions, including cancer and heart disease.
She said AtkinsRéalis has seen strong success with its reactor projects in Ontario and globally and is now working to deploy two additional reactors in Romania.
She added that isotope development could also represent a strong opportunity for New Brunswick.
“We are very open to the opportunity, and I think other suppliers are as well,” she said.
Fundy Shores, the host community for Point Lepreau, has been advocating for medical isotope development for several years.
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Mayor Denny Cogswell said that while they haven’t had any formal talks with AtkinsRéalis about developing medical isotopes, the community is optimistic for their presence in the region.
“I think that’s the next step. With them putting the office within the south region, we are hoping, fingers crossed, that there will be some quicker movement on some of the nuclear file,” he said.
Cogswell said the development of medical isotopes would not only be beneficial for Fundy Shores and the province, but for the country as a whole.
NB Power is also interested in developing medical isotopes.
In February, the utility announced it was exploring the potential production of radioisotopes at the Point Lepreau station, as the CANDU 6 reactor design is “well-suited” for their production.
However, McDonald said the company does not currently have a timeline for any isotope-related projects in New Brunswick.
With electricity demand rising in New Brunswick, the province revived discussions this summer about building a second nuclear reactor next to the Point Lepreau station.
McDonald said that AtkinsRéalis is encouraged by the province’s interest in a second reactor, saying it would improve the station’s reliability while delivering significant economic benefits to New Brunswick.
She added that if the province moves ahead with a second reactor, AtkinsRéalis hopes it is a CANDU reactor.
“In terms of that nuclear build-out plan for the country, we know New Brunswick is on the roster and excited about it, and we are there to support,” she said.
The Point Lepreau nuclear generating station has been off-line since Friday.
NB Power announced the shutdown Monday and said it was to allow crews to repair a small instrumentation line inside the reactor building.
According to a release from the utility, the location of the line can’t be accessed safely while the station is operating.
NB Power said specialized teams are carrying out detailed assessments and preparations to move the work ahead and determine a timeline for repairs.
The utility said its co-ordinating across its broader generation fleet to continue delivering “reliable electricity service to customers.”
It’s the second time in as many weeks the power plant has been taken off-line.
On Aug. 31, it was shutdown for repairs to a gasket on the turbine system.
It came back online Sept. 8.
Lepreau was also off-line from April 9 to Aug. 19 for planned maintenance.
The only provinces operating nuclear power plants entered an agreement Friday to improve performance at the Point Lepreau generating station.
New Brunswick Energy Minister René Legacy was joined by his Ontario counterpart Stephen Lecce to make the agreement.
“New Brunswick and Ontario are known across Canada and around the world for their accomplishments in nuclear power generation,” Legacy said. “This partnership will bolster that reputation and, more importantly, allow our two provinces to strengthen a promising working relationship.”
The support services agreement was signed between NB Power and Laurentis Energy Partners, a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation.
Under the agreement, Laurentis will provide expertise to improve performance at Point Lepreau. This will consist of:
Lecce said the partnership will help New Brunswick ensure energy reliability for NB Power customers, and reinforce Ontario’s position as Canada’s clean energy engine.
“Ontario is proud to lead the world in nuclear excellence – and we’re now exporting that expertise to help New Brunswick succeed,” he said.
Legacy said by strengthening this nuclear alliance, New Brunswick and Ontario can eliminate another interprovincial wall and play a key role in supporting energy needs at home and across Canada.