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New Uranium Mining Projects - Canada: Cigar Lake

(last updated 20 Dec 2007)

Cigar Lake Mining project (Saskatchewan)

CNSC approves extension of the expiry date of the Cigar Lake construction licence for two years

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) held a one-day public hearing (Nov. 1, 2007) on the application by Cameco Corporation for an amendment to its Cigar Lake construction licence to extend the expiry date for an indeterminate period. On Dec. 3, 2007, CNSC announced the approval of a license amendment for two years.

> Download CNSC Notice of Public Hearing, Aug. 20, 2007 (PDF)
> Download Hearing Transcript Nov. 1, 2007 (PDF)
> View CNSC release Dec. 3, 2007
> Download Record of Proceedings, including Reasons for Decision, Dec. 3, 2007 (PDF)

Second water inflow will delay Cigar Lake mine construction by at least a year

On Oct. 23, 2006, Cameco Corporation reported that Cigar Lake mine construction is expected to be delayed by at least a year after the mine experienced a significant water inflow following a rock fall and a portion of the underground development was allowed to fill with water. The incident began at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2006, in the future production area that previously had been dry. There were no injuries and there was no impact on the environment. Production startup was previously planned for early 2008.
Cameco later reported that it was unable to contain the water inflow by closing bulkhead doors and that all underground areas of the Cigar Lake project are expected to be filled with water.
On Mar. 18, 2007, Cameco announced that production startup is targeted for 2010, subject to regulatory approval and timely remediation. Total flood remediation cost is estimated at C$92 million.
On April 3, 2007, Cameco issued a Technical Report on Cigar Lake, including an updated capital cost estimate and a production forecast that are considered necessary because of the October 23, 2006 water inflow.
> Download Technical Report March 30, 2007

(4.6M PDF - SEDAR)
On May 4, 2007, CAMECO released an investigation report on the inflow event:
> Download Underground development flood investigation and management response

(1.2 MB PDF)
Cameco Corp. said its "deficient" development of the Cigar Lake mine contributed to a flood that delayed the project by three years and will double construction costs. Blasting by contract miners was performed with the wrong equipment and inadequate safeguards, producing a greater opening in the earth than specified and allowing the mine to flood with groundwater on Oct. 22, 2006, Cameco said in the report. "Insufficient assessment of the ongoing development, lack of quality control of the excavation and slow installation of ground support -- when taken together -- demonstrate" Cameco "failed to fully appreciate the degree of risk of developing in less than ideal ground conditions," Chief Operating Officer Tim Gitzel said in a May 2, 2007, letter to federal and provincial nuclear regulators that was included in the report. (Bloomberg May 4, 2007)
On Oct. 31, 2007, Cameco announced that the production startup date is now expected to be 2011, at the earliest.

Water inflow delays construction of Cigar Lake mine

Cameco Corporation announced that construction has been delayed at the second shaft of the Cigar Lake project in northern Saskatchewan. A water inflow began on April 5, 2006, at 5 p.m. at the bottom of the 6-metre wide shaft, 392 metres below the surface. All the workers safely left the area and removed equipment. There was no impact on the environment.
The second shaft will be primarily used for underground ventilation during production. The company’s preliminary assessment indicates that Cigar Lake production may be delayed by about six months and begin in late 2007. (Cameco Apr 6, 2006)
On May 4, 2007, CAMECO released an investigation report on the inflow event:
> Download Shaft #2 flood investigation and management response

(3.8 MB PDF)

Cameco seeks approval for further processing of Cigar Lake uranium at Rabbit Lake mill

> View details

CNSC approves construction of Cameco's Cigar Lake uranium mine

On April 1, 2004, CNSC announced

a one-day public hearing on July 7, 2004 on Cameco's application for surface construction activities at the Cigar Lake facility in 2004.
a two-day public hearing on July 7 and November 17, 2004 on Cameco's application for a full construction licence at the Cigar Lake facility.

On July 21, 2004, CNSC issued the license for the construction of surface facilities.

> Download CNSC Notice of Public Hearing (PDF)
> Download July 7, 2004 Updated Public Hearings Agenda (PDF)
> Download July 7, 2004 Hearing Transcript (construction of mining and support facilities) (PDF)
> Download July 7, 2004 Hearing Transcript (construction of surface facilities) (PDF)
> View CNSC release July 21, 2004 (construction of surface facilities)
> Download CNSC Record of Proceedings, including the Reasons for Decision, July 21, 2004 (construction of surface facilities) (PDF)

On Dec. 20, 2004, CNSC issued the full construction license.

> Download Nov. 17, 2004 Hearing Transcript (PDF)
> View CNSC release Dec. 20, 2004 (construction of the remaining mining and support facilities)
> Download CNSC Record of Proceedings, including the Reasons for Decision, Dec. 20, 2004 (construction of the remaining mining and support facilities) (PDF)

> Download Cameco Project description May 2003 update (3M PDF - Cameco)
> Download Cameco Construction, Operation and Decommissioning Environmental Assessment Study Report January 2004 (56M PDF - Cameco)
> Download Cameco Construction, Operation and Decommissioning Environmental Assessment Study Report February 2004 Addendum (2.1M PDF - Cameco)
> Download Cameco Construction license application July 2004 (3.3M PDF - Cameco)
> Download Cameco Surface construction CMD July 2004 (1.4M PDF - Cameco)

CNSC Environmental Assessment for the proposed construction of the Cigar Lake uranium mine

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) held a one-day public hearing (June 25, 2003) on the Environmental Assessment Guidelines (EA Guidelines) for the proposed construction of a mining facility at the Cigar Lake Project, located in northern Saskatchewan.
The draft EA Guidelines (scoping document) was made available to the public on May 9, 2003.
On Aug. 29, 2003, the CNSC "announced its approval of the Environmental Assessment Guidelines (Scope of Project and Assessment) that will be used to direct a screening environmental assessment of Cameco Corporation’s proposed construction of the Cigar Lake uranium mining facility near Wollaston Lake in northern Saskatchewan."

> View CNSC Release (Aug. 29, 2003)
> Download CNSC Record of Proceedings, including the Reasons for Decision (Aug. 29, 2003) (PDF)
> Download CNSC Hearing Transcript (PDF)

On March 3, 2004, CNSC issued a Request for Public Comment on the Screening Report - Cigar Lake Mine, Construction, Operation and Decommissioning.
> View CNSC announcement March 3, 2004

On June 10, 2004, CNSC held a one-day hearing to consider the results of the Environmental Assessment Screening Report (EA Screening Report). On June 30, 2004, CNSC announced its conclusion that Cameco's proposed "construction and/or modification of the CigarLake uranium mine site facilities, taking into account identified mitigation measures, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects". CNSC further decided not to refer the project to the federal Minister of the Environment for referral to a review panel or mediator.
> Download CNSC Notice of Public Hearing (PDF)
> Download June 10, 2004 Updated Public Hearings Agenda (PDF)
> Download Hearing Transcript June 10, 2004 (PDF)
> View CNSC release June 30, 2004
> Download Record of Proceedings, including the Reasons for Decision, June 30, 2004 (PDF)

> View CNSC information on Environmental Assessment - Construction and Operation of the Cigar Lake Uranium Mine

Construction of Cigar Lake mine could start in 2003

Construction of the Cigar Lake uranium mine could begin some time in 2003 if the price of uranium remains high, says a spokesman for Cameco Corp. "We're applying for the licences to construct," Jamie McIntyre said. (Financial Post July 10, 2002)

CAMECO new operator of the Cigar Lake Project

On December 11, 2001, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), after a two-day public hearing (Oct. 4 and Nov. 15, 2001), issued a Uranium Mine Site Preparation Licence for the Cigar Lake Project to Cameco Corporation of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The previous license to CLMC was revoked.
> Download CNSC Release July 25, 2001

(PDF)
> Download Transcript of October 4, 2001, hearing

(PDF)
> Download Transcript of November 15, 2001, hearing

(PDF)
> View CNSC Release Dec. 11, 2001

> Download CNSC Record of Decision Dec. 11, 2001

(PDF)

Site Preparation Licence issued for Cigar Lake Mine

On July 31, 2001, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced the decision to approve a site preparation licence for Cigar Lake Mining Corporation's (CLMC) Uranium Mine Site. The Cigar Lake Mining Corporation had applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for a licence to continue to manage the Cigar Lake underground mine in a care and maintenance mode for a three-year period.
Hearings were held on May 29, 2001, and June 28, 2001.
> View CNSC News Release July 31, 2001

> Download Record of Proceedings, Including Reasons for Decision, July 26, 2001

(PDF)
> Download Transcript of June 28, 2001 Hearing

(PDF)
> Download Transcript of May 29, 2001 Hearing

(PDF) (presentations by CLMC and CNSC staff)
> Download CNSC Release March 6, 2001

(PDF)

Cameco announces delay of Cigar Lake project

Cameco announced that the Cigar Lake mine will be delayed until 2005 because of the time needed for licensing and construction. (UI News Briefing 01.07, Feb. 14, 2001; Cameco Feb. 6, 2001)

Cameco becomes majority owner of Cigar Lake

Cameco agreed to purchase from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) an additional 1.275 percent of the Cigar Lake project, increasing its controlling interest from 48.75 percent to 50.025 percent. (Cameco News Release April 27, 1999

)
KEPCO's remaining interest of 0.725% in the Cigar Lake project was acquired by COGEMA. (Saskatoon Star Phoenix, May 6, 1999)

Cigar Lake ore to be processed at Rabbit Lake rather than McClean Lake

"The owners of the Cigar Lake project have agreed, in principle, to process the majority of Cigar Lake ore in the Rabbit Lake mill, subject to regulatory approval." (Cameco news release Nov. 24, 1998

)
Cameco must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) if they wish to proceed with the project. Draft project-specific guidelines for an EIS have been prepared identifying key issues to be addressed. Public comment on the draft project-specific guidelines is invited. Comments must be submitted by May 31, 1999. (Environmental Impact Assessment Notice

)

AECB orders cease work at McClean Lake Tailings Management Facility

> See under McClean Lake

AECB approves construction of JEB Tailings Management Facility

> See under McClean Lake

Government approval for Cigar Lake uranium mine project

On April 3, 1998, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan approved the Cigar Lake uranium project to proceed subject to certain conditions.
The Government of Canada agrees with most of the Review Panel's recommendations (see below), with one major exception:

"The Government does not agree with the Panel's condition that experiments be conducted to determine long-term acceptability of the tailings management facility before starting to deposit the tailings. Federal regulatory agencies consider that experimental studies of the aging tailings should take place at the same time that disposal takes place." [...]

> View Natural Resources of Canada press release: 98/22 · 98/22 (a) · 98/22 (b)
> View Govt. of Saskatchewan press releases: 98-231 · 98-232
> View Cameco press release .

Review Panel recommends approval of Cigar Lake mining project, subject to conditions

Panel wants to avert waste rock disposal in lakes
Panel demands for evidence that the proposed tailings disposal won't have long term impacts on Fox Lake
Panel expresses severe mistrust in COGEMA, the proposed tailings management facility operator

On November 13, 1997, the Joint Federal-Provincial Panel on Uranium Mining Developments in Northern Saskatchewan issued its report to the government recommending the approval of the Cigar Lake uranium mining project in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, subject to conditions.
The public review period for the Panel report ended February 5, 1998 (view SERM notice ).

Excerpt from the Panel Report summary:

"Approval of the Cigar Lake Project is recommended with certain reservations. The reservations are associated primarily with the use of the proposed JEB Tailings Management Facility where the tailings produced from the milling of the Cigar Lake ore would be stored and with the selection of a site for disposal of mine waste rock.
It is recommended that approval for mining, as described in the Environmental Impact Statement, be granted subject to the ability of the proponent to locate an environmentally acceptable place to dispose of mine waste rock. Disposal in an existing lake should be avoided if other acceptable sites, such as a mined-out pit, are available.
CLMC proposes to custom mill its ore at the JEB mill, operated by Cogema Resources Inc., at McClean Lake. We recommend approval of the concept for tailings disposal represented by the JEB Tailings Management Facility (TMF), but with major site-specific reservations.
The proposed JEB TMF, to be constructed using natural surround technology, is an attractive option for tailings disposal because it provides an opportunity to realize several environmental benefits relative to other methods for tailings disposal. Among these benefits are an increase in worker protection through the use of subaqueous deposition; reduction of environmental disruption at several locations, as a result of combining deposition of tailings from many ore bodies at one site; the avoidance of engineered barriers which may fail in the long term; the minimization of weathering problems; and the protection of the contents of the pit from scarification by glaciers during the next ice age. Because of these potential advantages, the concept for tailings disposal represented by the JEB TMF proposal is recommended.
However, there are critical site-specific technical and managerial concerns that must be resolved before this particular tailings management facility can be recommended. Chief among the technical concerns is the need for convincing evidence that operation of the TMF would not result in the contamination of Fox Lake in the long term. This concern is exacerbated by a lack of confidence in the managerial and scientific competence of the operator, Cogema. In addition, the obvious dismissive attitude of this company for the regulators and their concerns suggests that it would not be appropriate for Cogema, as currently managed, to be given responsibility for constructing and managing this very dangerous radioactive waste disposal facility."

> View panel report: executive summary · full report (251k)

> View Panel press release

> View Cameco press release of Nov. 13, 1997

> View Saskatchewan Environmental Society response to the Panel Report (Jan. 27, 1998)

The Cigar Lake uranium deposit has geological reserves of 150,000 tonnes of uranium at an extremely high ore grade of 7.8%. The deposit cannot be mined by conventional mining techniques, for its high radiation and its location in an unstable geologic formation about 450 meters below ground. Therefore, a new mining technology is to be used, which avoids human contact with the ore: First, the ore deposit is artificially frozen to improve its geotechnical stability, then the ore will be extracted by high pressure water jet-boring. The ore is crushed and ground underground and then hydraulically pumped to the surface for further treatment.

The ore will be trucked over a distance of 80 km and milled at the JEB mill at the McClean Lake mine site.

The tailings resulting from the chemical uranium extraction from the ore are to be dumped under a water cover in the open pit of the former JEB uranium mine nearby "to be totally isolated from the environment". For disposal, a variation of the scheme known as `pervious surround disposal' is to be used: the slurries will be neutralized with lime and dehydrated to a paste with a comparatively high solids contents of 50%. The surrounding rock then has a higher permeability than the paste, leading to minimized contaminant migration to the surrounding groundwater, according to the proponents.

Previous `pervious surround disposal' pilot sites in France and Canada included installation of a special layer of highly permeable material in the open pit before deposition of the tailings. This layer is now omitted, although there even is still no evidence of the long-term performance of the `pervious surround disposal' scheme used so far.

A bilingual (English/French) 24-page summary (The Cigar Lake Project - Environmental Impact Statement - Executive Summary, July 1995) of CLMC's EIS is available from the Panel Secretariat

View Comments on the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cigar Lake and Midwest Joint Ventures Proposal (46k), prepared by Radioactive Waste Management Associates for the Saskatchewan Uranium Coalition (RWMA publication No. 051).

On August 26, 1996, CLMC submitted a new plan for a changed tailings disposal concept, compared to the plan described in the EIS: the new plan comprises a combined pervious surround and subaqueous disposal scheme.

For updates on the review process, see CEAA Cigar Lake Panel Information

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