New Brunswick

Point Lepreau nuclear generating station back online after repairs

The Point Lepreau nuclear generating station, which has been offline since Aug. 7 for repairs, has now returned to full power.

Plant was shut down on Aug. 7 for work on non-nuclear reheater components of turbine system

The repairs to Point Lepreau's turbine system and replacement power during the shutdown were previously estimated to cost about $10.5 million. (CBC)

The Point Lepreau nuclear generating station, which has been offline since Aug. 7 for repairs, has now returned to full power.

The repowering began last Friday and the plant was reconnected to the grid on Monday, NB Power announced on Tuesday.

Reheater components of the turbine system in the non-nuclear section have been repaired.

The cost of the work and replacement power was not immediately available, but was previously estimated at $10.5 million.

This was the plant's third shutdown in the last few months and one of several since it came back online from a $1.4 billion, four-and-a-half year renovation in November 2012.

Problems with the turbine system also forced the plant offline in early June.

Point Lepreau provides 660 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 333,000 homes per year.