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Monday, May 28, 2012

A Warning For Provincial Taxpayers About Lepreau

The recent spill of 300 litres of heavy water at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant when a valve was opened when it shouldn't have been is the latest setback in a project that has been plagued by difficulties.

Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility questions whether the cost is worth it telling us not only is the refurbishment far over budget but the provincial government has not determined how much it will cost to build a permanent site to store the radioactive waste for thousands of years. 

After the refurbishment and commissioning activities at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant are complete, NB Power will still need the approval of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission prior to restarting the reactor which is still scheduled for the fall.

The Commission had expressed concern over the spill of less than 6 litres of heavy water back in December which forced the evacuation of the plant.