FREDERICTON -- NB Power says the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant is operating at 60 per cent of its capacity after the New Brunswick Crown utility company increased its output.

Problems with the reactor's fuel caps forced NB Power to slow refuelling and bring down power earlier this year.

NB Power has said the fuel caps were too tight as a result of adjustments made during a major refurbishment of the plant that wrapped up in November.

The original $1.4-billion project to refit the plant cost an extra $1 billion and took three years longer than expected.

The president of NB Power has said the plugs will need to be replaced in the next year or two.

The company says it will continue to boost energy during the next few weeks until the plant returns to full power.