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Cost blowout in refurbishing Canadian nuclear plant

N.B. premier threatens to sue Ottawa over nuclear power plant refurbishment Google News By Kevin Bissett (CP)  11 Jan 2010 FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham has delivered an ultimatum to the federal government – cover the cost overruns on the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant or his government will sue Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

“We feel that we have a very strong case to make before the courts if we have to go that route,” Graham said in an interview.”And when the federal government is looking to sell off the assets of AECL, this would be a terrible time for them to have a court challenge brought forward from the province of New Brunswick.

“The $1.4-billion overhaul of Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power plant is being done by AECL, a federal Crown corporation.The project was supposed to have been completed last September, but it is running 18 months behind schedule.The cash-strapped province is paying close to $1 million per day to buy replacement power while the reactor is off-line and provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir estimates it will cost about $400 million for replacement power if the project remains a year-and-a-half behind schedule.

The Canadian Press: N.B. premier threatens to sue Ottawa over nuclear power plant refurbishment

January 11, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Canada | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs