Orano Canada's Journey from Exploration to Rehabilitation

Orano Canada's journey began with exploration, specifically in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. This region is known for its rich uranium deposits.

The company's exploration efforts led to the discovery of significant uranium reserves, paving the way for their involvement in the nuclear industry.

Orano Canada's history in Canada dates back to 1964, primarily operating in northern Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin.

The company's first major activities began with the exploration and development of the Cluff Lake project, which led to the discovery of the first Cluff Lake uranium orebody in 1969.

By 1980, operations began at the newly built mine and mill, but the mine was shut down in 2002 and has since been decommissioned.

Orano acquired majority interest and operational control of the McClean Lake and Midwest projects in 1993, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.

The McClean Lake mill restarted in October 2014, after a brief period of care and maintenance from 2010 to 2014.

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Orano Canada's history in uranium mining began in the early 1930s when the Eldorado Gold Mining Company started operations at Port Radium in the Northwest Territories to recover radium.

A refinery to produce radium was built the following year at Port Hope, Ontario, which is a significant distance away from Port Radium.

In 1942, exploration for uranium began in earnest in response to a demand for military purposes.

The federal government took over the Eldorado company in 1944 and formed a new Crown corporation, which later became Eldorado Nuclear Ltd.

Uranium exploration was restricted to the joint efforts of Eldorado and the Geological Survey of Canada after the government takeover.

The wartime ban on private prospecting was lifted in 1947, allowing uranium exploration to gather pace.

The first discovery in Ontario's Elliot Lake region was made in 1953, and the northern Saskatchewan uranium province was also discovered in the 1950s.

Eldorado Nuclear began mining at Beaverlodge in 1953, marking the start of commercial uranium mining in the region.

By 1956, thousands of radioactive occurrences had been discovered, many of which proved to be viable deposits.

The first phase of Canadian uranium production peaked in 1959, with over 12,000 tonnes of uranium produced.

Canada's first repurposed uranium mine is a remarkable example of responsible mining practices. The site, located in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan, was operated by Orano Canada for 22 years, from 1980 to 2002.

The mine was a significant producer of uranium, extracting over 23,500 tonnes of the mineral.

Orano Canada had a clear plan for the mine's repurposing, designed to minimize its impact on the local population and environment.

The repurposing process involved several key steps, including filling in the open-pit mines, securing the underground workings, demolishing the mill, covering the tailings, and revegetating the entire site.

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Orano Canada has a significant presence in the Canadian uranium mining industry. The company operates several mines, including the McClean Lake mine, Cluff Lake mine, Cigar Lake Mine, and the McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill.

These mines have been in operation for many years, with the Cluff Lake mine being one of the first to be reopened in Canada. It was exploited for 22 years, from 1980 to 2002, and produced over 23,500 tonnes of uranium.

Orano Canada's rehabilitation efforts at the Cluff Lake site are a notable example of the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. The site was completely transformed through a multi-step process that included filling in open-pit mines, securing underground workings, demolishing the processing plant, covering waste, and re-vegetating the entire area.

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Canada's uranium production has been relatively constant over the last few years, but its share of world production dropped from about 20% to 15% before recovering to about 22% in 2016.

The majority of Canada's uranium resources are in high-grade deposits, some one hundred times the world average. This makes mining more challenging, requiring techniques like ground freezing.

Cameco and Orano Canada (formerly Areva Resources Canada) are the main uranium producers in Canada. Cameco was formed in 1988 through the merger of Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation and Eldorado Nuclear.

Today, the Saskatchewan government actively supports uranium mining, with all new mines having international ISO 14001 environmental certification. This certification ensures that the environmental impact of mining is minimized.

Here is a breakdown of Canada's uranium production in tonnes of uranium (U3O8) from 2013 to 2022:

Exploration for uranium in Canada began in earnest in 1942 in response to a demand for military purposes.

In the early 1950s, deposits around the Bancroft, Ontario, area were discovered, and the first discovery in Ontario's Elliot Lake region was made in 1953.

By 1956, thousands of radioactive occurrences had been discovered, with several proving to be viable deposits.

The first phase of Canadian uranium production peaked in 1959, producing more than 12,000 tonnes of uranium, which yielded C$ 330 million in export revenue.

Uranium production in the Bancroft area and at Beaverlodge ceased in 1982, and the last of the labour-intensive, lower-grade Elliot Lake mines closed in 1996.

The Cluff Lake mine in Canada was exploited for 22 years between 1980 and 2002 and was then redeveloped between 2004 and 2006 after the depletion of reserves.

The redevelopment of the Cluff Lake mine included comblement of the open-pit mines, securing the underground mines, demolishing the processing plant, and covering the waste and re-vegetating the entire site.

The mine's redevelopment was a multi-step process that aimed to limit the site's impact on the local population and environment.

The transfer of the Cluff Lake mine to the province of Saskatchewan took place in May 2024.

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Denison Mines Corporation has announced the commencement of production at the McClean Lake mill, marking a significant milestone in the company's operations.

The SABRE project involves the processing of ore from the J Zone at the McClean Lake mill, which is expected to produce approximately 1,000 tonnes per day.

The McClean Lake mill has undergone significant upgrades to accommodate the increased production, including the installation of new equipment and the expansion of the mill's capacity.

The SABRE project is expected to increase the mill's annual production by 10,000 ounces of uranium.

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Orano Canada has been operating in Canada since 1964, and as of now, it is responsible for the entire mining activity in Saskatchewan, either as an operator or partner on various projects.

The company explores new uranium-rich lands to ensure 20 years of supply to its international clients, while also rehabilitating sites at the end of their life cycle.

Orano Canada mills high-grade uranium deposits in Northern Saskatchewan to provide energy to its customers, with over 99% of the world's uranium used as fuel for nuclear power plants.

A long-standing relationship with the Canadian Light Source's Industry Services group has allowed Orano to monitor and assess the environmental impact and safety of its JEB Tailings Management Facility at McClean Lake since 1997.

The major environmental concern of uranium mining and milling is the accumulation of harmful chemicals, such as arsenic, in tailings.

Orano's approach to uranium tailings production ensures an appropriate iron to arsenic ratio and pH adjustment for stable iron arsenate solid precipitation.

The company uses this effective system to predict no significant downstream impacts, with the produced mine tailings sampled and results modeled.

The Canadian Light Source provides detailed information on arsenic in trace amounts, a task not easily completed by conventional methods, which has been vital to gaining regulatory approval.

Through this collaboration, effective tailings management has been achieved, and a proactive approach to geochemistry has been made possible.

Recent changes in global tailings standards have only added value to the partnership between Orano and the Industry Services group, providing the ability to discover potential hazards to the environment as they are produced.

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McArthur River and Cigar Lake are two significant uranium mines operated by Orano Canada. McArthur River is the world's most prolific uranium mine, producing 7,700 tonnes of uranium per year.

Located over 600 meters underground, this mine requires specialized methods to avoid direct contact between the ore and miners due to its high uranium content. Orano holds 30.2% of the shares alongside Cameco.

Cigar Lake, on the other hand, is the second-highest grade uranium mine globally, with Orano owning 40.453% of the mine. The Jet Boring system, a unique method developed by Orano, is used to extract the ore.

Here's a comparison of the two mines:

McArthur River is a significant uranium mine located over 600 meters below the surface. It's the most prolific uranium mine in the world, producing 7,700 tonnes of uranium per year.

The mine is owned by Orano, which holds 30.2% of the shares, alongside CAMECO. After a brief pause in operations, the mine was restarted in November 2022, following a maintenance period that started in July 2018.

One of the unique aspects of McArthur River is its high uranium content, which requires specialized methods to extract the mineral without direct contact with miners. This ensures a safe working environment for the people involved in the mining process.

McArthur River is a remarkable example of modern mining technology, allowing for the safe and efficient extraction of uranium from deep underground deposits.

Cigar Lake is a significant uranium deposit located at a depth of 450 meters in porous and waterlogged rocks. It's owned by Orano, which discovered the site in 1981.

The mine is known for its high uranium content, with Orano holding a 40.453% stake. The company has developed an innovative extraction method called the Jet Boring system, which involves reinforcing the terrain through freezing and breaking up the ore with high-pressure water.

In 2021, the mine produced 1,788 tonnes of uranium, with Orano's share being 4,747 tonnes after processing the ore at the McClean Lake plant.

The average uranium content per ton of ore in 2021 was 13.5%.

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Orano Canada is committed to exploration and securing its future. They're focusing on new, more economical sites, like the Athabasca basin in Canada.

This region has huge potential and could supply the McClean Lake mine, increasing the reserves and giving clients a clear view of production for the next 20 years.