NRU Status Update No. 68

AECL provides update on NRU activities

CHALK RIVER, ON, Aug. 4 /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 with NRU return-to-service activities. Replacement and testing of the reactor monitoring equipment, which contributed to a delay in the restart of NRU, was successfully completed.

As a result, AECL has completed the four assessments used to verify fuelling calculations and refueling of the reactor is now complete. The refueling of the reactor marks a significant milestone in NRU's return-to-service plan.

The return-to-service team is currently conducting tests on the main heavy water system in order to verify system performance following a long period of maintenance and layup. These tests are expected to be completed over the next several days. Following confirmation of the main heavy water system's operation, the team will close-out the outstanding return-to-service activities for the five remaining NRU auxiliary systems.

The restart schedule has been challenging with more than 3000 different restart activities required to return the reactor to service. To date approximately 95% 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. It is estimated that NRU will resume isotope production by mid-August. At this critical time, any unforeseen delays could extend the NRU's return-to-service schedule. 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