CNSC Issues Licence for Canada’s First In‑Situ Uranium Mine at Wheeler River
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CNSC grants licence for Wheeler River ISR mine and mill The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved a licence permitting Denison Mines Corp to prepare the site and construct a uranium mine and mill at the Wheeler River project in Saskatchewan; the licence is valid until the end of February 2031 and covers construction but not operation [1].
Federal approval completes regulatory steps after provincial EA With the Environmental Assessment already approved by Saskatchewan and other provincial permits secured, the CNSC decision represents the final federal approval required for Denison to begin construction of the Phoenix in‑situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine [1].
Phoenix project is the largest undeveloped eastern Athabasca Basin uranium deposit Phoenix, part of the Wheeler River project, is a joint venture—Denison holds 90% and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited 10%—and Denison serves as operator; ISR permitting for the site began in 2019 [1].
June 2023 resource estimate totals 70.5 million lb U₃O₈ The updated estimate reports 70.5 million pounds of uranium oxide (27,118 tU), with 30.9 million pounds in the measured category and 39.7 million pounds in the indicated category [1].
ISR mining dissolves uranium in place, a method new to Canada In‑situ recovery injects a leaching solution into the orebody, pumps the uranium‑bearing fluid to the surface for extraction, and now accounts for more than half of global uranium production; Canada has not previously used ISR, though Denison is also studying the technique at other projects [1].
Operating licence will require a separate CNSC hearing The current licence authorises only site preparation and construction; a future licence to operate the facility will be considered only after Denison submits an application and undergoes a new CNSC licensing hearing [1].
- David Cates, President and CEO of Denison Mines Corp: “The Commission decision to approve the EA and issue the Licence represents a landmark achievement… Phoenix is the first uranium mine in Canada to be approved for ISR… first large‑scale Canadian uranium mine approved for construction in more than 20 years… with an approximately two‑year construction timeline, the project remains on track for first production by mid‑2028.”