Areva Ready To Proceed With Midwest Project

Areva Ready To Proceed With Midwest Project

Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 14:58

It appears a long-awaited uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan will finally go ahead.

The $200-million Midwest project has been on standby for several years because of market conditions, but that’s about to change.

Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert says he’s received assurances from Areva’s chair in France that construction will begin either next year or the following year.

Production is anticipated to start in 2009 or 2010 — the ore from the new mine will be processed at the McClean Lake mill.

When it’s ready, the Midwest mine is expected to directly employ 100 workers.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Eric Cline says Areva has confirmed it will strongly consider Saskatchewan as a location for uranium refining and conversion facilities.