FREDERICTON - The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has given NB Power a five-year licence renewal for operation of the reactor at New Brunswick's Point Lepreau nuclear power plant.
The commission has given the provincial power utility company permission to begin reloading fuel and restarting the reactor.
The decision follows two days of public hearings last fall.
Point Lepreau has been out of service since March 2008 for a major refurbishment that's meant to extend the life of the reactor by 25 years.
The project is three years behind schedule and $1 billion over the original $1.4-billion budget.
There was a small spill of heavy water at the plant in December while the system was being refilled.
Point Lepreau, the only nuclear power plant in Atlantic Canada, is now scheduled to return to service this fall.
