In consultation with provincial wildfire management officials from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, Cameco has determined that the risk to Cigar Lake posed by the fire has now subsided.
With improved weather and smoke conditions, minimal likelihood of further road closures in the area, and all infrastructure at Cigar Lake remaining intact, the company has concluded that the full complement of personnel can be safely remobilized and regular operations resumed.
Cameco is now in the process of transporting employees and contractors back to site. Final inspections and preparation of equipment will occur over the days ahead to ready the operation for a return to production.
Cigar Lake is the world’s highest-grade uranium mine, producing ore in 2020 with an average grade of 15.92% uranium oxide. The mine’s ore is processed 70 km northeast, at the McClean Lake mill, operated by Orano.
Cameco owns 50% of the Cigar Lake mine and is project operator. The other owners are Orano Canada (37%), Idemitsu Canada Resources (8%), and TEPCO Resources (5%).
(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)
