PSEG N.J. Salem 2 reactor ramps up to 18 pct

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Public Service Enterprise Group Inc'S (PEG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) 1,130-megawatt Unit 2 at the Salem nuclear power station in New Jersey ramped up to 18 percent power as of early Friday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in its daily plant status report.

The unit was shut earlier this week due to an instrument problem related to the steam generator flow channels, a spokesman for the company said on Tuesday.

At the time of the shutdown, the unit was increasing power following a May 9 outage.

Operators manually shut the unit on May 9 from 47 percent due to high steam generator level.

At the time of the May 9 shutdown, the unit was increasing power after exiting a refueling outage earlier in the week.

It shut for refueling on March 12.

During the refuel, workers replaced the unit's four steam generators in addition to the usual refueling activities.

The unit last shut for refueling from Oct. 11-Nov. 1, 2006. It is on an 18-month refueling cycle.

The 3,403 MW Salem/Hope Creek station is located along the Delaware River in Salem, about 40 miles south of Philadelphia. There are three reactors at the station, the 1,174 MW Salem 1, Salem 2 and the 1,061 MW Hope Creek, along with the 38 MW Salem 3 oil-fired turbine.