Uranium mine may emerge from moratorium lift

A joint venture mining group may take another look at the possibility of a new uranium mine in British Columbia, as a result of the provincial government’s lifting of its 7-year-old moratorium on uranium mining and exploration in the province.

B.C.’s ministry of energy, mines and petroleum resources announced that it would allow the moratorium to expire, as scheduled, on Feb. 28.

This was encouraging news to Lacana Mining, and three joint venture partners, who have a small uranium deposit (the Blizzard), near Kelowna, B.C., that in fact was near to a production decision when the moratorium was imposed seven years ago.

With proven reserves of some 10 million lb of U3 O8 it’s described as a “beautiful little deposit,” close to surface and near to infrastructure, by vice-president, general counsel and secretary Peter Lawford.

It’s hard to say at this point just what might be done, Mr Lawford tells The Northern Miner, but he said the joint venture partners, Lacana, Norcen Energy, Campbell Chibougamau and Ontario Hydro, would likely want to get together soon, possibly even before the moratorium is actually lifted, to consider the possibilities.

It would be surprising to him, he added, if the deposit were not found to be economic.

He warned though that while the B.C. government’s move does open the door for such a project, apart from its economic viability, environmental concerns with their problems and solutions, acquisition of permits, etc., could prove difficult and time-consuming.

He said he was not aware of any other company or group of companies with a similar kind of uranium situation in B.C.

Whether or not the Lacana et al group does decide to proceed with the Blizzard property, the B.C. government’s announcement on the moratorium evidently discounted the possibility.

“British Columbia’s uranium occurrences are relatively small and low in grade,” it said. “Given the large, rich deposits in Saskatchewan and elsewhere, there is no incentive for mining companies to explore for uranium here. Development of a mine would not take place for years, if ever.”