Nuclear facility – Cigar Lake Mine
Cameco Corporation (Cameco) owns and is licensed to operate the Cigar Lake Mine site, which is located in northern Saskatchewan and is the world’s second largest high-grade uranium deposit after Cameco’s McArthur River. The ore mined at Cigar Lake is processed at the McClean Lake Mill.
Infrastructure at the site includes an underground mine; freezing plants and associated freeze pads; ore processing and load out; water treatment; mine rock storage pads; temporary waste storage; warehouses; worker camp; and office and administrative buildings.
| Location: | Northern Saskatchewan, about 660 km north of Saskatoon |
|---|---|
| Licensee: | Cameco Corporation |
| Owner: | Cameco Corporation |
| Status: | Operating |
| Licence issued: | July 1, 2021 |
| Licence expires: | June 30, 2031 |
| Start of operation: | 2014 |
| Licensing documentation: | Request a copy of the Cigar Lake Mine licence and licence conditions handbook at cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca |
| Facility website: | Cigar Lake |
Latest news
Commission proceedings
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, without ties to the nuclear industry. Use the links below to find documents related to Commission meetings or hearings.
- June 28, 2022: Decision on the application to amend the Cigar Lake Operation financial guarantee
- May 20, 2022: Notice of Hearing in Writing - Cigar Lake - Financial Guarantee - CMD 22-H105 (PDF)
- June 28, 2021: News release on the renewal of Cameco Corporation’s uranium mine licence for its Cigar Lake Operation
- February 5, 2021: Agenda for April 28–29, 2021 Public hearing – Ref. CMD 21-H1Agenda for April 28–29, 2021, Public hearing – Ref. CMD 21-H1 (PDF)
- November 13, 2020: Decision on the application for acceptance of a revised financial guarantee and licence modernization amendment for Cameco Corporation’s Cigar Lake Operation (PDF)
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Use the links below to find out more about any orders or penalties that have been placed on this licensee, if any.
- March 14, 2024: Administrative monetary penalty issued to Cameco Corporation
- October 28, 2022: Order issued to Cameco Corporation, Cigar Lake
Disclosure
Licensees must report events and incidents involving licensed activities that could impact the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment to the CNSC. Use the links below to find any information provided by this licensee, if any, as well as other public disclosures made by licensees.
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
The CNSC uses information provided by licensees to create our own reports assessing the environmental effects of nuclear facilities or licensed activities.
- Environmental monitoring: Independent environmental monitoring results collected by the CNSC
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs: List of monitoring programs managed by other levels of government
- Radionuclide releases: Uranium Mines and Mills dataset in the Open Government catalogue for information on releases from this facility
- Environmental risk assessment: Email cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca to request a copy
Health and safety
The CNSC oversees licensee emergency planning and works with other levels of government to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. We also conduct and review health studies on various areas associated with the production, possession or use of nuclear substances.
- Cameco radiation protection program (PDF)
- CNSC health studies on Canadian nuclear facilities: Relevant health studies of nuclear reactors regulated by the CNSC
Related links
- Environmental protection review: The CNSC’s analysis of Cameco’s environmental monitoring (PDF)
- Cameco’s environmental monitoring
- Cameco’s environmental risk assessment (PDF)
- Cameco’s environmental management program: Request access to this document by emailing cnsc.info.ccsn@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
- Eastern Athabasca Regional Monitoring Program (EARMP): Contact the EARMP for more information
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