13 Aug (NucNet): The Cameco Corporation has reported a setback in remediation work at the Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Work has been under way since October 2006 when a rockfall led to flooding. However, Cameco said remediation work at the mine’s No.1 shaft was temporarily suspended yesterday after an increase in the rate of water flowing into the mine.
The shaft had been pumped down to 430 metres below surface when the increase was reported early yesterday. Cameco said that during the day, the inflow rate increased steadily to approximately 600 cubic metres per hour, which is beyond the range that can be managed while sustaining work in the shaft. The mine has a total depth of 500 metres and the mine underground workings are at the 480-metre level.
“Our current plan is to allow the water level in the shaft to rise to approximately 100 metres below surface. This will allow additional data to be gathered from instruments used to monitor groundwater conditions. As the water level rises, the rate of inflow will naturally diminish. This information will be analysed to determine next steps. After this is complete, the water will be allowed to return to the natural equilibrium level,” Cameco said.
Cigar Lake, which was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2007 and supply about one tenth of global consumption, is a joint venture owned by Cameco (50 per cent), Areva Resources Canada (37 per cent), Idemitsu Canada Resources (8 per cent) and Tepco Resources (5 per cent).
– by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Cameco Announces Progress At Cigar Lake Mine (News in Brief No. 18, 20 February 2008)
Progress Continues At Canada´s Cigar Lake Mine (News in Brief No. 73, 30 June 2008)
