COVID-19

Cameco suspends Port Hope and Blind River

Amid the ongoing closure of its Cigar Lake mine in Saskatchewan due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Canadian uranium miner Cameco is now also suspending the Blind River refinery and the Port Hope conversion facility in Ontario.

 Cameco's Port Hope conversion plant

Cameco's Port Hope conversion plant

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Cameco said it was halting operations for an initial four weeks, mainly due to the increasing challenges of maintaining an adequate workforce as a result of COVID-19 screening protocols put in place to align with the directives and guidance of the health authorities. 

The uranium trioxide produced at Blind River feeds the conversion to uranium hexafluoride at Port Hope, hence the temporary closure of both plants.

Cigar Lake  and the McClean Lake mill remain on care and maintenance. 

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