Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) is delaying the return to service of its National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, by 10 to 15 days.
During the fuel reloading step of the reactor restart process, AECL found that a set of reactor instruments was not responding as expected. Replacement of the instrumentation began this week, but it will delay NRU's return to service beyond the July 31 target date.
A July 28 report in The Globe and Mail in Toronto quotes AECL spokesman Dale Coffin as saying the delay is not related to completed repairs at NRU. He added that AECL could not have anticipated the problem, because the instruments are used only during the restart of the reactor.
AECL added that other return-to-service plans are proceeding, with workers having loaded more than half of the reactor fuel to resume production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). The NRU reactor produces approximately half of the Mo-99 supply for North America.
Related Reading
AECL: NRU restart still on schedule, July 16, 2010
SNM: Long-term Mo-99 problems remain, July 8, 2010
Canadian agency OKs Chalk River restart, July 7, 2010
AECL plans for late July restart, July 2, 2010
AECL start-up hearing rescheduled, June 30, 2010
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