update July28/09
The refurbishment at Point Lepreau has reached an important milestone, but the project is now seven months behind schedule. NB Power spokeswoman Heather MacLean says crews have completed the removal of 380 tubes from the heart of the reactor which completes the reactor disassembly.
It is the first time a Candu-6 reactor has been refurbished and MacLean says the use of specialized tools for the job took longer than expected. The project was originally expected to cost $1.4 billion and would have seen the reactor back online in September but it will now be next year.
