NRU Status Report #65 - AECL provides update on NRU activities

Chalk River Information Bulletin

(2010 July 14) 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. Loading of non-fuel components into the vessel is now complete.  The return-to-service team is currently commissioning startup instrumentation, specialized equipment required for the restart of the reactor after the extended outage.  This activity is taking more time to complete than originally planned.  Upon successful commissioning of this instrumentation, AECL will begin loading molybdenum (Moly) targets and reactor fuel. 

The restart schedule is challenging, with more than 3,000 different restart activities that must be completed prior to returning the reactor to service. Despite project challenges, the planned return-to-service date is still achievable.

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 the end of July. 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.


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Contact:

Dale Coffin
Director, Corporate Communications
AECL, 1-866-886-2325