Operations at the Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan have been halted temporarily due to processing disruptions at Orano’s McClean Lake uranium processing mill, as reported by Canadian uranium supplier Cameco Corp.
Cessa Fern’s workday starts with squeezing into a metal cage with 19 colleagues and descending to a depth deeper than the Empire State Building’s height into a dark underground world of rock formations, pipes, and cables. This is where uranium is extracted, and where fears are confronted.
Before her initial descent in the elevator, Fern, a radiation student technician, had doubts about the job. “I was hesitant about working in the mine,” she recalled in an interview.
Nevertheless, the 18-year-old eventually descended into the mine, encountering more challenges along the way. One such challenge was when she had to collect air samples in the mine’s “scarier” section, characterized by loud noises and pitch-black darkness. Fern asked her supervisor if she could skip this task but was encouraged to proceed. “They told me, ‘You can do it,'” she said. “So, I did. I went down and collected the air sample, despite my fear.”
Cameco’s Cigar Lake mine, situated in the rugged boreal forest 660 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon, employs over 400 workers and contractors. During a recent mine tour, employees shared insights into their work in the world’s richest uranium deposit.
The descent into the mine is facilitated by a cage-like elevator, accommodating 20 individuals. As miners descend, they switch on their headlamps, feeling the rush of air. The cage vibrates and occasionally rattles, with water dripping from above.
Inside the mine, miners navigate a network of expansive tunnels carved into grey bedrock. Illuminated by lights and lined with pipes, the tunnels see miners moving between tasks, operating machinery like forklifts and skid-steers. The air is ventilated, carrying a faint diesel scent.
Uranium, located beyond the bedrock layer, is extracted using a specialized machine called the jet boring system. This system deploys a drill, known as the rhino, into the ore, maintaining a cavity through which high-pressure water is pumped to cut the ore into fragments. The resulting slurry — a mix of uranium, water, and other rocks — is transferred to a holding area.
To ensure tunnel stability, workers fill empty spaces with concrete, with the ceiling adorned with large bolts marking previous drilling points. Radiation levels are monitored by meters, with a light box serving as a warning system displaying green for safe, yellow for caution, and red for evacuation.
In the event of a fire, a pungent gas is released to signal evacuation. Cameco assures that employees are exposed to minimal radiation annually, less than that of most CT scans.
Taryn Roske, a 16-year veteran at the mine, spends 13 hours daily underground operating the jet boring system. As the sole female operator of the machine, Roske navigates a workforce that is predominantly male, using her position to challenge stereotypes and showcase her capabilities.
Employee schedules involve working two consecutive weeks underground before returning home for a two-week break. The mine site offers amenities like meals, a gym, and recreational activities such as card games and movie nights. Workers also have access to Waterbury Lake for boating and fishing.
For Fern, mining is a family legacy, with her father serving as the mine’s maintenance supervisor and grandfather working as a community relations liaison. The Fern family represents a tradition of passing down experiences and knowledge.
Once the uranium slurry is extracted, it undergoes processing at a nearby mill to produce “yellowcake,” a uranium concentrate shipped to buyers worldwide for nuclear power generation. Cigar Lake, described as a boutique mine by General Manager Kirk Lamont, is known for its high-grade and specialized production.
Canada ranks as the world’s second-largest uranium producer, with all production coming from three mines in northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca basin. Cigar Lake alone produces eight million kilograms annually, sufficient to power the province’s electricity grid for over two decades.
Cameco reports that nearly half of its workforce comprises residents of northern Saskatchewan, with a notable Indigenous representation. The company has entered into collaboration agreements with several First Nations communities, emphasizing job creation, development, and environmental protection.
Environmental practices at the mine include treating and testing water used in mining operations before returning it to Waterbury Lake. Residual solids and radiologically contaminated waste are securely stored, with the bags repurposed to fill mined tunnels once exhausted.
Lamont highlights the company’s commitment to operating on treaty territory, stating, “It’s the right thing to do.” He affirms that the water cycle within the mining process ensures that the water entering and exiting the lake maintains high standards of cleanliness.