New Mines for the New Millennium

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New Mines for the New Millennium

• Hon. Eldon Lautermilch
• Minister of Energy and Mines
• Province of Saskatchewan

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Saskatchewan Uranium Mines
Athabasca Basin
Saskatchewan
Rabbit Lake
McClean Lake/Midwest
Cigar Lake
Cluff Lake
Key Lake
McArthur River
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Presentation Outline

• Current Mine Operations
• Regulatory Environment
• Government Initiatives
• Public Support
• Uranium Exploration

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Mine Operations

• McArthur River
• Resources 483 m lbs
• Avg grade 17.3 U3O8
• Production 18 m lbs/yr

• McClean Lake
• Resources 50 m lbs
• Avg. grade 3.3 U3O8
• Production 6 m lbs/yr

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In-Ground Ore Values

• Ekati Diamond Mine Cdn 149 per tonne
• Voiseys Bay (Ni-Co)Cdn 334 per tonne
• Cigar Lake Cdn4,423 per tonne
• McArthur River Cdn4,753 per tonne

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Cigar Lake

• Resources 332 m lbs
• Grade 16.1 U3O8
• Production18 m lbs/yr
• Expected Start 2003

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Key Lake

• Largest Uranium Mine and Mill Operation
• More than 190 m lbs U3O8 production
• Annual Mill Capacity Expansion to 18 m lbs
• Processing McArthur River Ore

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Cluff Lake

• More than 50 million pounds U3O8 production
• Operations to be Suspended in 2000/01
• Economics
• Tailings Facility Capacity

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High-Tech Operations

• McClean Lake Mill
• Concrete shielding for solution tanks
• Ventilation system
• Computerized contol system
• McArthur River Mine
• remote control mining
• underground grinding
• ore body freezing

McArthur River
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Regulatory Environment

• Uranium mines must
• protect the environment
• protect health safety
• provide socio-economic benefits
• Good relations with regulators
• History of safe operations

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Government Initiatives
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Initiatives

• Providing Geoscience Information
• Consulting and Public Input
• Streamlining the Regulatory Environment
• Decommissioning and Reclaiming Mines
• Creating a Competitive Investment Environment

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Public Support

• Public Poll Results
• Public Support for Uranium Mining 70
• Concern with impact of
• Forestry 74
• Oil Gas 74
• Agriculture 72
• Uranium mining 62

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Uranium Exploration
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Exploration

• LaRoque Lake
• Grades 30 U3O8
• Depth 280m
• Shea Creek
• Massive pitchblende up to 6 m thick
• Depth 700 m

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Exploration
The Athabasca Basin Tremendous Geologic
Potential
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Conclusions
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Saskatchewan Strengths

• Large, High-Grade Resources
• Significant Geologic Potential
• Lower Production Costs
• Good Working Relationships
• Co-operative Regulatory Environment
• Strong Commitment to Consultation
• History of Safe Operations
• Strong Public Support
• Provincial Government Support

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Saskatchewan
Premier Uranium Producer for the World
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