Cigar Lake Decision Expected Within Weeks

Cigar Lake Decision Expected Within Weeks

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 at 15:16

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is expected to rule before Christmas on whether the long-awaited Cigar Lake uranium project can finally proceed.

Last week, officials with Cameco Corporation were in Ottawa for the second and final day of hearings concerning Cameco’s application for a construction licence.

The first day of hearings was heard in La Ronge in June.

The Cigar Lake project was delayed for years while the mine’s owner waited for uranium prices to improve.

Cameco spokesman Lyle Krahn says he doesn’t want to pre-judge how the commission will rule, but he feels company representatives made a good case for the mine to finally get the green light.

If the licence is granted, the mine will take 27 months to build — employing 300 people in the process.

When it’s ready for production, the mine is expected to employ about 250 people.