McArthur River/Key Lake

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  • McArthur River/Key Lake, located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, are the world's largest high-grade uranium mine and mill.
  • In service since 1999 and 1983 respectively, Cameco operates the ISO 14001 certified locations, which have collectively produced 535 million lbs using a variety of mining methods.

Operation

(As of December 31, 2023)
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Cameco ownership infographic
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1088 people employed (including contractors) - 53.6% re from northern Saskatchewan

McArthur River Reserves

(As of December 31, 2023)
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Infographic - 6.72% Triuranium octoxide Average Grade
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Infographic - 265.6m lbs triuranium octoxide
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Infographic - Licensed to 2043
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Infographic - total packaged production 549.8m lbs triuranium octoxide, Key Lake + McArthur River since 1983 (100% basis)

2024 Q1 Update

Production

McArthur River Production
Cameco's Share (million lbs)

Three months ended December 31  
20242023Change2024 Plan
3.52.446%12.6

In the first quarter of 2024, total packaged production from McArthur River and Key Lake was 5 million pounds (3.5 million pounds our share) compared to 3.4 million pounds (2.4 million pounds our share) in the first quarter 2023. Our share of production was higher in the first three months of 2024 compared to 2023 with the mill having achieved its planned production run rate following the transition from care and maintenance (2018 through 2021) back to normal operations.

We continue to expect production of 18 million pounds (12.6 million pounds our share) in 2024.

The collective agreement with the United Steelworkers Local 8914 expired in December 2022, and we are in negotiations to reach a new agreement. The federal conciliation process began in October 2023 and concluded January 2024. As in the past, work continues under the terms of the expired collective agreement while negotiations proceed. There is a risk to the production plan if we are unable to reach an agreement and there is a labour disruption.

See full Quarterly Report

Environment & Safety

Worker safety, environmental monitoring and proper decommissioning, after mining is completed, are of the utmost importance to Cameco.

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Reserves & Resources

Our mineral reserves and resources are the foundation of our company and fundamental to our success.

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Key Lake is the world’s largest high-grade uranium mill.  

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Routine water sampling is part of a rigorous environmental monitoring program in place at each operation. 

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McArthur River high-grade ore arrives as a slurry in special totes after being trucked 80 kilometres south to the Key Lake mill.  

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McArthur River is the world’s largest high-grade uranium mine.  

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Underground at McArthur River, 'snowmen' circulate a brine that keeps the porous rock surrounding the orebody frozen. 

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Mining at McArthur River takes place between 530 and 640 meters below surface.  

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Numerous tests to measure radiation are part of a rigorous monitoring program in place at each operation. 

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Caution about Forward-Looking Information   
This page may contain forward-looking information that is based upon the assumptions and subject to the material risks discussed on page 2 of Cameco's most recent Quarterly MD&A.

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