OWNERSHIP:

Cameco Corporation (70%)
AREVA Resources (30%)

OPERATOR:

Cameco Corporation

DISCOVERED:

1988 by Cameco Corporation

OPERATION:

The McArthur River operation is the world's largest, high-grade uranium mine, contributing to 15% of the world's uranium production. It began operation in December 1999.

 

CAPACITY:

The McArthur River operation is licensed to mine up to 18.7 million lbs. U₃O₈ (7,200 tonnes uranium) annually on average, not to exceed 20.7 million lbs. U₃O₈ (8,100 tonnes uranium) in any given year. McArthur River uranium ore is processed at the Key Lake operation.

 

PRODUCTION:

19.1 million lbs. U₃O₈ (7,346 tonnes uranium) in 2009; ore is processed at the Key Lake operation

 

RESERVES:

335.5 million lbs. U₃O₈ (128,933 tonnes uranium) with an average grade of 15.24% U₃O₈

 

PLANS FOR 2011:

• Develop a third raise-bore chamber in zone 2, panel 5.
• Begin work on freeze-wall required to bring the upper mining area of zone 4 into production.
• Continue to work on the McArthur River extension project, including advancing an underground exploration drift to the north of the present mineworks to further explore the known resources as well as further surface exploration drilling of zone B.

2010