Operations at Cigar Lake uranium mine, McClean Lake mill, suspended because of issue with sulfuric acid plant

Operations at Cigar Lake uranium mine, McClean Lake mill, suspended because of issue with sulfuric acid plant

Repairs at northern Sask. plant expected to be complete within 2 weeks

Operations at the world's highest grade uranium mine have been temporarily suspended.

In a news release, Cameco said it's because of "operational challenges" at Orano Canada's McClean Lake mill, where the Cigar Lake mine's ore is processed.

Both operations are in northern Saskatchewan, more than 650 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

In its own news release, Orano cited an issue with the McClean Lake mill's sulfuric acid plant, which has been shut down.

An expansion joint in the plant experienced the issue on Monday, the company said, adding "the situation was managed safely with no serious injury."

Orano said operations at the mill, located 70 kilometres northeast of Cigar Lake, have also been temporarily suspended because the plant is a critical part of the milling process, producing the acid required to extract uranium from ore.

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Orano said a replacement expansion joint was sourced from the Key Lake operation, and the company is securing sulfuric acid from alternative suppliers to help support milling operations while the acid plant is being repaired.

It said its personnel have been "working around the clock" to bring the acid plant back online, with the help of skilled welders from the Cigar Lake operation.

"Our priority is to complete this repair safely and correctly," Orano Canada President and CEO Pascal Bastien said in the release. "I want to thank our employees and partners for their professionalism and rapid response."

Orano said operations are expected to resume in about two weeks or sooner.

It said an unplanned shutdown of this duration is rare for the McClean Lake mill and has not occurred in at least the past 10 years.

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Cameco said it's shutting down mining operations at Cigar Lake because there's only so much mined ore it can store there.

It said it's not expecting the disruption to impact the mine's 2026 production outlook, but that could change if the repairs to the sulfuric acid plant take longer than planned and mining at Cigar Lake is unable to resume on the expected schedule.

There are 1,648 people employed at Cigar Lake, including contractors. Forty-three per cent of Cigar Lake employees are from northern Saskatchewan.

A Cameco spokesperson said that while mining activities have been temporarily suspended, workers and contractors remain at site and other work is being done.

The McClean Lake mill is one of the world's largest and most advanced uranium processing facilities.

The mill had record production last year, producing nearly 20 million pounds of uranium concentrate.

The entire McClean Lake operation employs nearly 400 people.