FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – Premier Bernard Lord will be looking for nearly $1 billion when he meets with Prime Minister Paul Martin on Wednesday to discuss refurbishing Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power plant.

Lord said Tuesday that given the uncertain future of the federal Liberal minority government, he also will meet with federal Conservative Leader Stephen Harper to make sure he is aware of what New Brunswick is seeking.

Lord’s Conservative government is looking for a major financial contribution from Ottawa to help fix up the province’s aging Candu reactor at Point Lepreau, near Saint John, New Brunswick, about 25 miles from the Maine border.

“We want the federal government to continue to support the nuclear industry and we want them to help with the refurbishment cost of Point Lepreau,” Lord said.

“The best way for them to do that is to provide an interest-free loan for 30 years.”

Lord said the loan would be for a minimum of $800 million.

He also wants the federal nuclear agency, AECL, to refund $90 million that NB Power paid for preparation work on a possible refurbishment.

Lord said the Canadian nuclear industry at home and abroad has benefitted from research into the problems and benefits of refitting small Candu reactors, like the one at Point Lepreau, to keep them going another 25 or 30 years.

“This is in the best interest of Canada,” the premier said.

“The decision the prime minister must make is whether or not the federal government still supports the nuclear power industry in Canada. If so, then it has an obligation to support Point Lepreau in New Brunswick.”

The 22-year-old reactor at Point Lepreau, the only nuclear power plant in Atlantic Canada, is nearing the end of its life and must be either mothballed or overhauled.

Refurbishment would cost at least $1.4 billion, well beyond the province’s ability to pay.