Cluff Lake Project Sets Global Benchmark for Responsible Resource Development
Uranium is valued for its ability to power clean energy systems around the world, but in Saskatchewan there’s a uranium mine that is noted not just for what was removed from the land, but what was returned.
Situated in the remote boreal forest of northwest Saskatchewan, the former Cluff Lake uranium mine demonstrates that the province not only has the highest-grade uranium needed to fuel the world’s clean energy, companies here are also extracting this resource to the highest standards of environmental stewardship.
Operated by Orano Canada from 1980 to 2002, the Cluff Lake mine included four open pit and two underground mines. There was a mill complex to produce uranium, several buildings such as warehouses, a water treatment plant, a tailings management area to manage waste, base camp to house employees, and an airstrip to bring employees and supplies to the site.
Today the site has been returned to nature. All evidence of the mine has been dismantled, sealed or reclaimed, and is again available for traditional land uses. Over 650,000 trees and shrubs were planted, and the former pits, waste rock areas, and tailings facilities were restored with native vegetation, enabling wildlife to return and thrive. The buildings and equipment are gone. Even the culverts were removed, and streams have been restored to their natural flow.
In short, Cluff Lake no longer resembles an active or even a recently closed mine.
During its lifetime, the mine produced more than 62 million pounds of uranium concentrate and employed about 300 staff.
After Cluff Lake stopped producing uranium in 2002, it took years of planning and environmental assessment before the bulk of the physical decommissioning could be done.
“The Cluff Lake project exemplifies Saskatchewan’s commitment to responsible resource development,” Orano’s Vice President of Safety, Health, Environment and Regulatory Colin Braithwaite said. “From day one, the government and regulators emphasized a full-lifecycle approach to mining. That commitment made it possible for us to return the site to a state where the land can be used traditionally and safely by future generations.”
Not only is Saskatchewan ranked number one for mining investment attractiveness in Canada according to the Fraser Institute, the province is also recognized globally as one of the most sustainable jurisdictions for resource development. With the world’s highest-grade uranium deposits and a provincial regulatory framework grounded in environmental stewardship, the province leads the way in demonstrating how economic growth and ecological responsibility can go hand in hand.
Administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, the province’s Institutional Control Program ensures that closed mine sites like Cluff Lake remain safe and stable, with monitoring and maintenance funded by industry. The site was the first modern uranium mine to be accepted into this program, setting a national standard for responsible decommissioning.
After uranium production ceased, Orano initiated a multi-year decommissioning process involving extensive community consultation. Through the Cluff Lake Public Information Program — approved by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission — rightsholders and northern residents were engaged through open houses, site tours, and regular updates to ensure transparency.
The voices of Indigenous and northern communities helped shape the site’s final land-use plan. Their input influenced everything from the location of monitoring sites to revegetation strategies using local tree and grass species.
“The area is no longer an industrial site,” explained Braithwaite. “The buildings are gone, the roads are mostly overgrown, and the land has begun to blend back into the boreal landscape.”
The public has had access to the site since 2013. Local residents can safely hunt, trap, fish, and gather in the area. Environmental monitoring has confirmed that the water and wildlife are safe for consumption.
The decommissioning process also included repurposing and donating equipment from the former camp and mill to communities across the region. Items such as kitchen appliances, emergency vehicles, and housing units were gifted to schools, friendship centres, and municipalities in Ile a la Crosse, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, and other nearby communities.
These donations helped enhance emergency services and community infrastructure while strengthening relationships between Orano and the people of northern Saskatchewan.
Looking to the future, Orano launched the Orano Mining Futures Scholarships at the University of Saskatchewan, Northlands College, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic to support the next generation of mining professionals. These initiatives demonstrate that Cluff Lake’s legacy continues to fuel innovation — not just in the ground, but in people.
The Cluff Lake project has been a trailblazer since its inception. Preliminary decommissioning plans were submitted before construction even began, which was an approach virtually unheard of at the time. This proactive planning laid the groundwork for a seamless transition through every phase of the mine’s lifecycle.
“Cluff Lake proves that mining can be a temporary use of the land,” Braithwaite emphasized. “We designed the site with the end in mind, and that mindset changed everything.”
Today, as the world demands more clean energy and minerals, Saskatchewan stands out not only for its resource wealth, but for its commitment to doing things the right way. Cluff Lake demonstrates that responsible leadership, community collaboration and long-term thinking, sustainability, and resource development can thrive together.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations
Trade and Export Development
Regina
Phone: 306-526-6302
Email: media.ted@gov.sk.ca
