Name of the Project
Rook 1 uranium project.
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada.
Project Owner/s
NexGen Energy.
Project Description
Rook 1 is the biggest development-stage uranium project in Canada.
The project hosts the Arrow deposit, which, in turn, hosts measured and indicated mineral resources of 256.7-million pounds of uranium contained in 3.75-million tonnes grading 3.1%.
The project has a mine life of 10.7 years, with average production estimated at 28.8-million pounds of uranium in years 1 to 5.
Average life-of-mine production is estimated at 21.7-million pounds a year of uranium.
Access to the underground Arrow deposit will be through two shafts, an 8-m-diameter production shaft (intake air) and a 5.5-m-diameter exhaust shaft (second egress). Access to the workings will be from the production shaft.
Conventional longhole mining will be used for production. The mining method will use mechanised equipment and conventional processes widely employed in the global mining industry.
The estimated mill capacity is targeted stated at 1 300 t/d of ore.
The key infrastructure contemplated includes:
- underground infrastructure, including materials handling systems, maintenance facilities, a fuel bay, an explosives magazine, ventilation, a paste backfill and a paste tailings distribution system, electrical and communications facilities, underground water supply and dewatering facilities.
- an underground tailings management facility.
- surface support infrastructure for the mine, including headframe and hoist facilities, a surface explosives magazine and ventilation fans.
- surface support infrastructure for the mill, including a process plant, a solvent-extraction plant, an effluent treatment plant and an acid plant.
- site support infrastructure, including an accommodation camp, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, an LNG power plant, mine and mill dry facilities, analytical and metallurgical laboratory and maintenance, as well as warehouse and security buildings.
- a surface ore-storage stockpile facility, as well as waste-rock storage facilities for potentially acid-generating, nonpotentially acid-generating and special waste materials.
- water management facilities, consisting of two site water runoff ponds, six contact water process ponds, a potential acid-generating stockpile runoff collection pond, and conveyance and diversion structures.
- domestic and/or industrial waste management areas.
- an airstrip.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of C$3.7-billion and an internal rate of return of 52.4%, with a payback of nine months.
Capital Expenditure
C$1.3-billion.
Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.
Latest Developments
NexGen announced on November 9 that it had received Ministerial approval from Saskatchewan to proceed with the development of its Rook I uranium project.
NexGen is the first company in more than two decades to receive full provincial environmental assessment (EA) approval for a uranium project in the province.
With the provincial EA approval in place, NexGen has submitted all responses to the federal technical review of the Rook I project environmental-impact statement and is awaiting completion of the federal EA process.
Further, NexGen has lodged, in advance, the initial applications for approvals of site earthworks, shaft sinking infrastructure, site water and mine waste management facilities, and associated ancillary infrastructure and services.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has said the province and its northern communities are well positioned to benefit from the increased demand for critical minerals.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
NexGen Energy, tel +1 306 954 2275.