Orano, Denison secure approval to expand McClean Lake's tailings facility

Denison Mines Corp. said Jan. 19 that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved an amendment to the uranium mine and license for the McClean Lake operation in Saskatchewan, allowing for the expansion of the JEB tailings management facility.

Mine operator Orano Canada Inc. owns 77.5% of the mine, and Denison holds the remaining 22.5%.

The commission held a public hearing on the amendment, where submissions from Orano and input from Denison, CNSC staff, Cameco Corp., the English River First Nation, the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan and the Athabasca Joint Engagement and Environmental Subcommittee, among others, were considered.

"The McClean Lake mill remains a strategically significant asset in the Athabasca Basin region, representing the only uranium milling facility currently operating in Canada. The amendment to the operating license for the McClean Lake operation allows for the expansion of the [tailings management facility], such that the facility will be well-positioned to serve as a regional milling center for current and future uranium mining projects in the eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin for many years to come," Denison President and CEO David Cates said in a statement.

The amended license will be valid until June 30, 2027.