Cluff Lake mine
The Cluff Lake mine, located about from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the northern terminus of Saskatchewan Highway 955, was owned and operated by AREVA Resources Canada, formerly COGEMA Resources. The project opened in 1980 and had both open pit and underground mines. It ceased uranium production at the end of 2002 when the ore reserves were depleted. It was originally scheduled to shut down in 2000, but additional higher ore grades in the underground mine allowed production to continue for an additional two years. Total production during the mine's 22-year operating life was over 62 million pounds of yellowcake.
The mine's decommissioning plan involved two years of active decommissioning, followed by several years of onsite monitoring and then long-term monitoring. When decommissioning is complete, the site is expected to have no significant adverse effects on the environment.
Aside from unpaved Highway 955, the mine was served by Cluff Lake Airport, which was decommissioned after the mine closed.
