Northern Groups Win Cluff Lake Contracts

Northern Groups Win Cluff Lake Contracts

Thursday, August 05, 2004 at 13:30

 

 

Cogema Resources has followed through on its promise to involve northerners in the decommissioning of its Cluff Lake uranium mine.

 

Last month, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission gave the mining company permission to proceed with the work.

 

Two of the major contracts up for grabs have been awarded to joint ventures based in the North.

 

Pinehouse-based Snake Lake Construction and Northern American Rock and Dirt have been given the contract to backfill the open pit mine at the site.

 

Meanwhile, a consortium of 5 west-side communities known as the Northern Venture Group has been awarded the contract to demolish the mill in a joint venture with Denison Environmental Services.

 

Cogema spokesman Alun Richards says all the groups have promised to make sure northerners make up 60 per cent of the workforce in both of those projects.

 

Richards says the work on the open pit mine could start at the end of August and will employ 60 people.

 

Demolishing the mill will require 15 workers and will start sometime in the fall.

 

Cogema still has to award the contract for covering and grading Cluff Lake’s tailings management area.