POINT LEPREAU, N.B. -- A shutdown at New Brunswick's Point Lepreau nuclear generating station has been extended for a second time.

The facility was taken offline March 19 due to problems with a fuelling machine and heat transport system.

The shutdown was expected to last two weeks, but the deadline was pushed back on April 9 and again on Monday.

The latest maintenance outage has been extended for at least another week.

NB Power says more repairs are required to the station's heat transport system.

The 660 megawatt generating station produces enough electricity to power more than 333,000 homes.