Cigar Lake Operation
Cigar Lake is the world’s highest grade uranium
mine. Commercial production was declared in
May 2015 following a decade of development.
•
Cumulatively from the beginning of commissioning in 2014
to the end of 2015, Cigar Lake produced sufficient ore slurry
to package11.6 million pounds of U308 (Cameco’s share was
5.8 million pounds)
The mine continues to ramp up to its annual licensed capacity of
•
Bulk freezing of orebody
18 million pounds.
• Cigar Lake shipped its first ore slurry on March 13, 2014
•
Production method uses 3 jet boring machines unique to the
mining world
cigar lake operation
facts
Location
•
660 km north of Saskatoon
Ownership
•
A joint venture of Cameco (50%), Areva Resources Canada (37%),
Idemitsu Canada (8%) and TEPCO Resources (5%)
Workforce
•
At year-end 2015, Cigar Lake employed about 400 Cameco
employees and around 110 permanent and project-related
contractors, 53% of whom are Residents of Saskatchewan’s North
History
•
Deposit discovered in 1981
•
Construction period 2005-2013, interrupted by water inflows in
2006 and 2008
•
First ore slurry shipped to McClean Lake on March 13, 2014
•
First Cigar Lake uranium oxide packaged in October 2014
•
Commercial production declared May 1, 2015
Outlook for 2016
Cigar Lake’s environmental monitoring program confirms the operation’s
environmental performance is meeting all regulatory criteria
•
The ramp-up phase at Cigar Lake continues
•
So far in 2016, an average of about 11 truckloads of slurry each
day are delivered to the McClean Lake mill from Cigar Lake mining
operations
Jet boring progress key to Cigar Lake
ramp-up success
As Cigar Lake ramps up to full production, the focus remains on achieving
consistent and reliable operation of the three jet boring machines in place
underground at Cigar Lake.
The jet boring system (JBS) involves purpose-built machines that travel
on rails within a production tunnel. The machines use piping to deliver
high pressure jets of water to carve out frozen ore located about 30 to 40
metres above the production tunnel.
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Facts about jet boring at Cigar Lake
• Water coming out of the jetting tool travels at supersonic speed
• Breaking up frozen rock, ore and clay requires a controlled jet of
water at 15,000 pounds per square inch and a flow rate of 260
gallons a minute
• Each JBS requires the combined pumping power of four
800-horsepower electric motors
• Process produces so much kinetic energy that ore and rock
previously frozen to -5C to -15C reaches a temperature of 10 to
15C by the time it enters the JBS storage tank
Jet boring is a non-entry mining method that allows
frozen ore to be mined from a production tunnel located
about 30 to 40 metres beneath the orebody
Barge drilling operates on Cigar Lake
A summer drill program which began in July of 2016 is operating from
a barge on Cigar Lake, the narrow body of water that provided the name
to this world-class uranium mine. The barge drilling program is being
undertaken by Team Drilling, a northern joint venture company.
The purpose of the program is to better understand the Phase 2 resources
identified as holding potential for a longer mine life at Cigar Lake.
Summer 2016: barge set up for drilling on Cigar Lake
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Based on current mineral reserves of 221.6 million pounds (Cameco’s share
110.9 million pounds), Cigar Lake’s mine plan will take the operation to
2028. However, there are additional resources not yet part of mine plan that
could extend the mine life. Most of these resources are in the Phase 2 area,
distinct from the Phase 1 ore now being mined.
Environmental safeguards used in the barge drilling program include
• Absorbent booms installed around the barge perimeter to capture any fuels or lubricants that might leak
• Silt curtains ensure sediment disturbed by drilling remains within the footprint of the barge
community liaison representatives
www.cameconorth.com
306.425.4144 (La Ronge)
306.956.6200 (Saskatoon)
08/2016
Freddie Throassie
Black Lake
Darlene Gazandlare
Hatchet Lake FN/Wollaston