The Point Lepreau CANDU pressurized heavy water (PHWR) reactor is owned and operated by New Brunswick Power (NB Power). It is a 700 MWe class CANDU 6 reactor designed by AECL. It has a gross output of 680 MWe, and supplies approximately 30% of the province’s electricity.

Point Lepreau was the first CANDU 6 to be licensed for operation, the first to achieve criticality and the first to begin commercial operation. Construction of the Point Lepreau reactor began in January 1975 and was completed in 1981. First power was achieved in September 1982, with the start of commercial operation in February 1983.

NB Power was the first Canadian utility to sell electricity from a nuclear power plant to the United States, which helped offset the initial capital costs of the plant.

In 1992, NB Power opened its full-scale simulated control centre. It plays a key role in training NB Power station operators, as well as training operators for other CANDU plants.

Point Lepreau Major Project Milestones

Source of all capacity factors is CANDU Owners Group (COG).

Point Lepreau Original Construction