Faced operating challenges from recent wildfires but many were prepared to handle the disruptions
Michael Joel-Hansen
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
An early, intense start to Saskatchewan’s wildfire season has left uranium miners in the northern part of the province navigating the risks to their operations after the fires caused disruptions.
Uranium miners in northern Saskatchewan faced operating challenges amid road closures and power and communications losses as fires tore through the region starting in late May, but many say they were well prepared to handle the disruptions thanks to established wildfire plans.
Brian Reilly, chief operating officer at Saskatoon-based Cameco Corp., which operates two active uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan, said the company works with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to develop protection plans. This includes constructing fire breaks and installing firefighting equipment to protect infrastructure.
“We clear away vegetation and brush using large earth moving equipment,” Reilly said. “That would be number one. Number two would be installing sprinklers.”
Cameco has firefighting equipment on site, along with staff who are trained in emergency response and firefighting. He said the company employs 165 people across its four sites in northern Saskatchewan who have extensive training in combatting wildfires.
“We’ve lifted our game over the years in terms of training in response to what we’re seeing as increased risk of wildfires,” Reilly said.
Fires have threatened Cameco’s facilities before. In 2021, the Briggs Fire threatened the Cigar Lake mine and forced the evacuation of non-essential workers. Cameco’s mine at Rabbit Lake, which has been in care and maintenance since 2016, was also threatened by fire that same year. Reilly said those past incidents, along with the company’s lengthy time operating in northern Saskatchewan, has helped it develop plans to address the challenges wildfires bring.
“We’re doing our level best to prepare for future incidents,” Reilly said.
Saskatchewan’s 2024 wildfire season clocked in with the second-largest number of fires and second-largest recorded burn area in a decade. Wildfires this year came early and were larger and more intense amid dry forest conditions. Some experts think higher temperatures and drier conditions could lead to more extreme wildfires in future seasons. But Reilly said Cameco is well prepared to meet any future threats and doesn’t anticipate needing to change mine designs to mitigate risks.
“I think we have the proper measures in place today in terms of our wildfire preparedness,” Reilly said.
This most recent round of wildfires did not directly threaten any of Cameco’s facilities, but normal operations were a challenge because the fires disrupted supply routes, he said.
“We had periods where we had no road access,” Reilly said. “We need(ed) to manage our inventory again around fuel, key reagents and freight very closely.”
Mining facilities already plan ahead for possible supply disruptions by stocking extra inventory crucial to maintaining operations. In the case of a lengthy road closure, some supplies can be flown into a facility. Still, a number of critical supplies are not ideal for air transport, which could raise issues if a company isn’t prepared.
“When you’re talking about fuel and explosives and bulk commodities, those are tricky,” Reilly said. “They’re best delivered via road transport.”
Cameco also faced disruptions to power and communications services. The company turned to back-up systems, like gas-powered generators and alternative communications systems that make use of satellites, to cope.
Other operational changes were required to address the needs of workers living in communities impacted by the fires. Many employees needed to return home, which led to facilities being short-staffed.
“We had to adjust operations with a limited restricted workforce,” Reilly said. “That was probably our biggest adjustment.”
Despite having to make operational adjustments, Cameco still expects to meet its annual production targets, Reilly said. This year the company aims to produce 18 million pounds of uranium at both its Cigar Lake and McArthur River/Key Lake facilities.
Orano Canada Inc., which operates the McLean Lake Mill in northern Saskatchewan that processes uranium from Cameco’s Cigar Lake mine, also faced impacts to its facilities, though it wasn’t directly threatened by the fires.
Carey Hyndman, manager of communications for Orano, said communications and power were disrupted, forcing the facility to rely on generators.
“It’s been more of a logistics and communications issue this time,” she said.
Orano worked with authorities to get supplies to the mill via convoys of trucks when it was safe to do so. But despite the challenges, the mill was mostly able to operate as normal, Hyndman said.
Vancouver-based NexGen Energy Ltd., which is working to develop the $2-billion Rook I project in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin, said it is prepared to deal with wildfire threats at its future operation, set to get full regulatory approval in 2026.
NexGen chief executive Leigh Curyer said staff have been on the ground at the future mine site since 2013, where they have been dealing with wildfire risks. Those preparations will continue to address future fires, he said.
Brian Reilly, chief operating officer at Saskatoon-based Cameco Corp., which operates two active uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan, said the company works with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) to develop protection plans. This includes constructing fire breaks and installing firefighting equipment to protect infrastructure.
“We clear away vegetation and brush using large earth moving equipment,” Reilly said. “That would be number one. Number two would be installing sprinklers.”
Cameco has firefighting equipment on site, along with staff who are trained in emergency response and firefighting. He said the company employs 165 people across its four sites in northern Saskatchewan who have extensive training in combatting wildfires.
“We’ve lifted our game over the years in terms of training in response to what we’re seeing as increased risk of wildfires,” Reilly said.
Fires have threatened Cameco’s facilities before. In 2021, the Briggs Fire threatened the Cigar Lake mine and forced the evacuation of non-essential workers. Cameco’s mine at Rabbit Lake, which has been in care and maintenance since 2016, was also threatened by fire that same year. Reilly said those past incidents, along with the company’s lengthy time operating in northern Saskatchewan, has helped it develop plans to address the challenges wildfires bring.
“We’re doing our level best to prepare for future incidents,” Reilly said.
Saskatchewan’s 2024 wildfire season clocked in with the second-largest number of fires and second-largest recorded burn area in a decade. Wildfires this year came early and were larger and more intense amid dry forest conditions. Some experts think higher temperatures and drier conditions could lead to more extreme wildfires in future seasons. But Reilly said Cameco is well prepared to meet any future threats and doesn’t anticipate needing to change mine designs to mitigate risks.
“I think we have the proper measures in place today in terms of our wildfire preparedness,” Reilly said.
This most recent round of wildfires did not directly threaten any of Cameco’s facilities, but normal operations were a challenge because the fires disrupted supply routes, he said.
“We had periods where we had no road access,” Reilly said. “We need(ed) to manage our inventory again around fuel, key reagents and freight very closely.”
Mining facilities already plan ahead for possible supply disruptions by stocking extra inventory crucial to maintaining operations. In the case of a lengthy road closure, some supplies can be flown into a facility. Still, a number of critical supplies are not ideal for air transport, which could raise issues if a company isn’t prepared.
“When you’re talking about fuel and explosives and bulk commodities, those are tricky,” Reilly said. “They’re best delivered via road transport.”
Cameco also faced disruptions to power and communications services. The company turned to back-up systems, like gas-powered generators and alternative communications systems that make use of satellites, to cope.
Other operational changes were required to address the needs of workers living in communities impacted by the fires. Many employees needed to return home, which led to facilities being short-staffed.
“We had to adjust operations with a limited restricted workforce,” Reilly said. “That was probably our biggest adjustment.”
Despite having to make operational adjustments, Cameco still expects to meet its annual production targets, Reilly said. This year the company aims to produce 18 million pounds of uranium at both its Cigar Lake and McArthur River/Key Lake facilities.
Orano Canada Inc., which operates the McLean Lake Mill in northern Saskatchewan that processes uranium from Cameco’s Cigar Lake mine, also faced impacts to its facilities, though it wasn’t directly threatened by the fires.
Carey Hyndman, manager of communications for Orano, said communications and power were disrupted, forcing the facility to rely on generators.
“It’s been more of a logistics and communications issue this time,” she said.
Orano worked with authorities to get supplies to the mill via convoys of trucks when it was safe to do so. But despite the challenges, the mill was mostly able to operate as normal, Hyndman said.
Vancouver-based NexGen Energy Ltd., which is working to develop the $2-billion Rook I project in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin, said it is prepared to deal with wildfire threats at its future operation, set to get full regulatory approval in 2026.
NexGen chief executive Leigh Curyer said staff have been on the ground at the future mine site since 2013, where they have been dealing with wildfire risks. Those preparations will continue to address future fires, he said.
“Forest fires are always an aspect of the summer and we have very successfully mitigated that risk for the last 12 years and would expect to do so going forward,” Curyer said.
Cooler, wetter weather has helped bring this year’s wildfires under control, with most evacuated residents back in their communities. Mining facilities are also back to normal.
In a written statement, the Government of Saskatchewan said it was pleased to see mining facilities in the north return to full operations after making adjustments due to wildfires. It also added that provincial regulations require certain companies, including mines, that operate near forests or parks to have plans in place to deal with wildfires.
“All industrial and commercial facilities must submit a wildfire prevention and preparedness plan,” the government said in the statement.
The province isn’t considering changes to mine approvals because of wildfires, according to the statement. As it stands, companies looking to develop mining projects must already consider a wide range of environmental factors, including fire threats.
“This includes prolonged dry spells and associated increased risk of wildfire,” the statement said.
