Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station temporarily offline

The Point Lepreau nuclear power plant in Point Lepreau, N.B., is seen on Monday, July 9, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Bissett

NB Power’s Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station has been once again taken offline.

Late Monday evening, the utility company alerted the public that the station has been taken offline for maintenance on a cooling fan after an issue was reported by staff.

The generating station will remain offline until the issue is fixed. A timeline for the repair work and when the station will be back online will be determined following a full diagnostics of the issue.

“This fan is a mandatory piece of equipment essential for the operation of the Station,” reads a new release from NB Power. “The assessment and the repair of this fan can only be performed while the Station is offline, as the work must be done in a safe and controlled environment.”

“The temporary outage is part of our proactive approach to maintaining the highest standards of safety, and we are following all established protocols to complete the work efficiently,” the release continues. “NB Power is committed to delivering sustainable, safe, and reliable energy to New Brunswickers and this repair will not impact the energy security of the province.”

The utility says there is no risk to public safety or the environment as a result of the issue.

The generating station is no stranger to shutdowns. For much of 2024, Point Lepreau was offline for various maintenance and repair work.

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