Pressure to close Gentilly-2 plant applied

BECANCOUR, QUEBEC - A coalition wants Hydro-Quebec to close Gentilly-2, the provinceÂ’s only nuclear power plant.

The call comes as Japan struggles with its tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Located in Becancour, near Trois-Rivieres, the Gentilly-2 reactor produces about three per cent of QuebecÂ’s electricity.

On April 13 and 14, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is to hold public hearings about a $2-billion plan to refurbish Gentilly-2, which opened in 1983.

Mouvement Sortons le Quebec du Nucleaire — which includes scientists, artists and groups such as Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation and Nature Quebec — is to hold a news conference about its demand.

The coalition says it opposes the plant because of the potential risk to human health.