Now water problems curb production at Cameco’s Eagle Point uranium mine

For the second time in little over a year, a Cameco uranium mine in Saskatchewan has encountered water inflow problems. Mining activity has been limited at the Eagle Point mine.

RENO, NV - 

As Cameco already wrestles with the flooding and dewatering problems plaguing its Cigar Lake uranium project, the mega-miner Wednesday announced that the Eagle Point mine at the Rabbit Lake operation is also experiencing increased water inflow.

In a statement, Cameco said limited mining activity will continue at the second largest uranium operation in the world, located in Saskatchewan as the mill continues to operate with a small amount of stockpiled ore.

Eagle Point has reserves of approximately 19.0 million pounds U₃O₈ with total production for 2006 of 5.1 million pounds U₃O_8.

Increased water inflow is estimated at 40 to 50 cubic meters per hour. The capacity of the surface water-handling system has been temporarily reduced during a period of upgrading currently underway. The planned upgrade to the surface water-handling system is expected to be complete in a week when the mine is anticipated to return to normal operations.

Cameco said the mine's designated water storage area is sufficient to hold more than three months of additional water inflow entering Eagle Point.

Thus far, Cameco has already produced 3.6 million pounds of uranium at the Rabbit Lake operation and estimates annual production will be 3.8 million to 4 million pounds.

Meanwhile, the flooded Cigar Lake project, the world's largest undeveloped uranium mine, is still working on flood remediation to mitigate water inflows that have delayed the start of production until 2011.

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