Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) now says it will be the end of July before its National Research Universal (NRU) nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, can return to service.
In a March 25 update, AECL noted that it has completed 56% of the repair work to the reactor, but the final two repair sequences are "particularly challenging." Four phases of work will be needed to get the 52-year-old reactor, responsible for half the supply of medical isotopes for the U.S., online again.
The NRU has been dark since May 2009, when a major water leak was discovered.
AECL stated that it is "making every effort to return the NRU to service as quickly and safely as possible. More resources are being applied to the project, including additional aluminum welding specialists and other technical expertise to support this around-the-clock, seven-day-a-week activity."
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AECL delays NRU restart to May, March 12, 2010
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AECL: NRU reactor restart delayed, February 25, 2010
AECL confirms delay for Chalk River, January 29, 2010
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