AECL provides update on NRU activities
CHALK RIVER, ON, July 28 /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 progress continues on the NRU return-to-service activities. The return-to-service team has successfully loaded more than half the reactor fuel completing its first stage of fuel loading and has conducted the first of four assessments used to verify fuelling calculations.
As noted in last week's update (Status Report No. 66, July 21), at this critical time, any unforeseen operational issues could extend the NRU's return-to-service date.
During the fuel reloading, it was determined that a specific set of reactor instrumentation, important to safe operation, was not responding as expected.
Replacement of the instrumentation is currently underway and is estimated to add 10 to 15 days beyond the planned return-to-service date of July 31.
The restart schedule is challenging with initially more than 3,000 different restart activities that must be completed prior to returning the reactor to service. To date approximately 90% of these activities are complete.
Guidance on the duration of the shutdown continues to be founded on the best evidence available, and completing the critical path requirements for restart after an extended shutdown. Further guidance on the return-to-service date will be provided when more information becomes available.
CNSC safety inspectors continue to provide independent regulatory oversight of AECL activities at the Chalk River site.
The NRU continues to be in a safe shutdown state with return to service activities in progress.
For further information: Dale Coffin, Director, Corporate Communications AECL, 1-866-886-2325
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