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Cluff Lake mine
Cluff Lake mine is decommissioned former uranium mine located in northern Saskatchewan, located 30 km east of the provincial border with Alberta and approximately 75 kilometres south of Lake Athabasca.[1] The mine and mill were owned and operated by AREVA Resources Canada, formerly COGEMA Resources[2] and is now owned and operated by Orano Canada.[1] The former mine lies south of the center of the Carswell impact crater. HistoryThe mine operated from 1981[1] and used both open pit and underground extraction.[2] Mining infrastructure consisted of a central mill, above ground tailings management area, 3 open pits, 2 underground mines, associated waste rock piles, and site infrastructure including the Cluff Lake airstrip and residences.[2] The mine expected to close in 2000, but additional higher ore grades in the underground mine allowed production to continue for an additional two years.[2] The mine closed in 2002[1] once the ore reserves were depleted.[2] Total production during the mine's 22-year operating life was over 62 million pounds of yellowcake.[2] Decommissioning mostly happened in the subsequent five years and was totally completed in 2013 once the camp residence and Cluff Lake Airport were removed.[1] Decommissioning activities were described by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission:
In July 2019, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: renewed Orano's uranium mine licence renewal by five years, though until July 31, 2024. As per their 2020 report:
In February 2020, Orano applied to transfer responsibility for site to the Government of Saskatchewan.[1] Gallery
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