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Cameco Issues Cigar Lake Update

By Eric McErlain
Work to reopen the Cigar Lake uranium mine after a flood last October continues. From a Cameco press release:
The first phase of the remediation plan involves drilling holes down to the source of the inflow and to a nearby tunnel where reinforcement may be needed, pumping concrete through the drill holes, sealing off the inflow with grout and drilling dewatering holes. Subsequent phases include dewatering the mine, ground freezing in the area of the inflow, restoring underground areas and resumption of mine development. Regulatory approval is required for each phase of the remediation plan.

Eleven of the 14 drill holes planned for reinforcing and sealing off the water inflow area are now complete. (See the diagram posted with this news release.) Concrete is required in two locations underground – one near the rock fall to seal off the inflow area and another in a nearby tunnel to provide reinforcement. More than 700 cubic metres of concrete have been poured through drill holes into the reinforcement area. The concrete mixture is designed to harden under water and is being poured in successive layers.

Cameco expects to complete the work necessary to seal off the water inflow in the second quarter of 2007, provided that the current pace of drilling is maintained, and the concrete solidifies as planned to provide reinforcement and prevents or reduces water inflow sufficiently to enable mine dewatering.

"We continue to make steady progress on the remediation work," said senior vice-president Terry Rogers.
Click here for a PDF copy of the report.

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