Saskatchewan is poised for a nuclear-sector boom following federal approval for the first new uranium mines to be built in Canada in more than 20 years.
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The Government of Saskatchewan announced that two major projects in the northern Athabasca Basin — Denison Mines Corp.’s Wheeler River Project and NexGen Energy Ltd.’s Rook I Project — have cleared federal regulatory hurdles.
The approvals from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission mark the first time new uranium mines have been authorized for construction in the country since 2004.
Energy and resources minister Chris Beaudry said the projects represent a “generational” economic opportunity, particularly for Indigenous and Métis communities in the province’s north.
“At each step of the approval process, these companies have advanced their projects responsibly,” Beaudry said in a news release. “Wheeler River and Rook I will strengthen our position in becoming the world leader in uranium production.”
The two projects represent a combined investment of $2.8 billion. Officials estimate the construction phase will create more than 1,600 jobs, with 700 permanent positions once the mines are operational. NexGen CEO Leigh Curyer estimated the Rook I Project alone could generate $32.5 billion in total economic impact over its lifespan.
David Cates, president and CEO of Denison Mines, noted site preparation has already begun at the Phoenix deposit, which will be the first “in-situ recovery” uranium mine in Canada — a method that involves dissolving the mineral underground rather than traditional open-pit or shaft mining.
The province’s uranium sector currently supports about 3,300 jobs. With the global demand for low-emission energy rising, provincial officials say Saskatchewan is well-positioned to supply allies with stable, high-grade uranium.
Currently, about 43 per cent of uranium mine site workers in the province are residents of Saskatchewan’s north.
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