NB Power's Point Lepreau shut down again

The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, which was temporarily taken offline on Thursday, is being prepared to return to service after repairs were completed on one of the station's standby safety systems overnight.

NB Power said in a release that the nuclear generating station "is being prepared to return to service after repairs were completed on one of the station's standby safety systems overnight."

This is the fourth shutdown in recent months and one of several since it came back online from a $1.4 billion, four-and-a-half year renovation in November 2012.

Earlier in the summer, the station went offline for repairs to reheater components of the turbine system in the non-nuclear section. The cost of the work and replacement power was estimated at $10.5 million. 

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

Following completion of startup procedures this weekend, the station is expected to reconnect to the grid on Sunday and return to high-power operations.

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