Canadian uranium miner Cameco has temporarily suspended production at its Cigar Lake mine, in northern Saskatchewan, as a precaution due to the proximity of a wildfire burning in the vicinity of the operation.
The situation is complicated by extremely warm, dry weather, resulting from the heat dome that has settled over western Canada in recent days, along with variable wind and smoke conditions.
All nonessential personnel had been evacuated, with about 230 workers having been transported offsite, Cameco reported on Thursday.
About 80 essential personnel would remain on site to maintain the facility in safe state. The miner added that it had a site plan in place to ensure the remaining personnel’s safety, should the wildfire threat grow considerably.
The Cigar Lake mine accounts for about 13% of global production. Production at Cigar Lake has been suspended several times in the last year, mostly owing to Covid-19 measures. The mine was idled between March 2020 and September 2020, and again between December and April this year.