(file photo/Cameco)

By paNOW Staff

covid-19

Pandemic prompts Cameco to suspend operations at Cigar Lake

Dec 14, 2020 | 8:51 AM

Cameco is temporarily suspending production at its Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan over the coming weeks.

That’s due to the increasing risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in part, because of the impacts on access to qualified operational personnel.

In a statement Monday, the company said it had had six positive tests at their northern operations in recent weeks, including three at Cigar Lake.

Saskatchewan is experiencing a significant negative trend in the pandemic, the statement read, which is leading to increased uncertainty for the continuous operation of Cigar Lake, due in part to access to qualified operational personnel. We will continue to carefully monitor the provincial COVID-19 situation, especially in northern Saskatchewan, as well as the impacts on our communities and the availability of employees and contractors to travel to Cigar Lake.

“The safety of our workers, their families and communities is our top priority,” said Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel. “We have had six positive tests at our northern operations in recent weeks, including three at Cigar Lake. While the protocols we have put in place have to date allowed us to effectively manage these cases, there are broader risks we don’t control. Therefore, we believe it is prudent to do our part to continue to protect our people and our operations from the increasing threats that are outside our influence.

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“One of the most challenging trends we’ve had to navigate is the shrinking availability of workers in critical roles at Cigar Lake due to self-isolations, absenteeism and communities being on temporary pause for transporting workers due to the pandemic.”

At the peak of production this fall, there were about 300 workers on-site at Cigar Lake. As a result of this decision, we will be placing the mine in a safe state of care and maintenance and there will be a significant reduction in personnel. We expect the enhanced health and safety protocols already in place and the decreased activities at site will ensure we can continue to work safely.

Cameco will continue to have regular dialogue with public health authorities and northern leaders in Saskatchewan.

The full media release can be seen here.

panews@jpbg.ca

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