NRU Status Report No.59

AECL provides update on NRU activities

CHALK RIVER, ON, June 9 /CNW/ - The following information bulletin is in accordance with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) ongoing commitment to voluntary public disclosure of events related to the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL).

AECL reports that the NRU weld repairs remain at ninety-eight per cent complete as work continues to address a single imperfection that was identified during non-destructive examination (NDE) of the final weld repair.

Welder training and practice for the finishing repair was completed this past week. Site cleaning, grinding and re-welding are now in progress. Upon completion of the repair work NDE will be conducted on the site to confirm acceptance of the final repair.

Activities related to the start-up phase of the NRU Return-to-Service project are ongoing in parallel to repair activities. Part of the Return-to-Service project's plan includes reactivating the NRU's operating systems.

More information on the return-to-service of the NRU is available at NRUCanada.ca.

Guidance on the duration of the shutdown continues to be founded on the best evidence available, including the most up-to-date analysis of inspection data, progress on repair strategies and critical path requirements for restart after an extended shutdown. It is estimated that NRU will resume isotope production by the end of July. Further guidance on the return-to-service date will be provided when more information becomes available.

AECL is working diligently to return the NRU to service as quickly and safely as possible. Efforts are being driven by more than 300 highly qualified AECL staff and industry partners involved in the vessel repairs and return-to-service activities.

The CNSC safety inspectors continue to provide independent regulatory oversight of AECL activities at the Chalk River site.

There is no threat to workers, the public, the environment or nuclear safety related to this event.

For further information: Dale Coffin, Director, Corporate Communications, AECL, 1-866-886-2325