N.B.-made nuclear plant device sold to China

A multi-million-dollar device used in nuclear power plants that was first developed in New Brunswick, is now being exported to China.

The fuel-handling simulator is the second of its kind in the world. The first was developed at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.

The private New Brunswick firm Atlantic Nuclear bought the intellectual property for the simulator from NB Power when they saw the opportunity to sell it around the world, specifically to countries where the Canadian-designed Candu 6 reactor is used.

"This is going to significantly improve the quality of the training received by fuel-handling operators with our client," said Mark McIntyye, Altantic Nuclear vice-president.

A team from the client company, Qinshan Nuclear Power Corp, is in Saint John this month before the unit will be shipped to China.

He Lei, Qinshan's fuel-handling director, says the tool makes training much more effective at his plant.

Atlantic Nuclear hopes to sell the device to other countries in the future with plants in Romania, Korea and Argentina among potential buyers