NexGen Energy (ASX:NXG) has advanced to the next stage of the federal environmental approval process for its flagship Rook I Project in the Athabasca Basin, Canada.
The Vancouver-based company says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has concluded its 30-day completeness check of NexGen’s responses to the remaining 49 technical review comments and revised federal environmental impact statement (EIS).
The commission’s Federal-Indigenous Review Team has now begun a two-month technical review.
Once the CNSC has confirmed that all technical review comments have been resolved, it will deem the EIS final and schedule a Federal Commision hearing date.
NexGen is ready to begin construction once the EIS process is complete, with the acceptance of the federal licence application in September 2023 and having secured provincial environmental approval in November 2023.
The company is the first in more than 20 years to receive full environmental approval for a greenfield uranium project in Saskatchewan.
CEO Leigh Curyer says detailed engineering and procurement activities are continuing and local training programs are underway for future staffing requirements.
“Rook I represents a crucial clean fuel source that is fully in line with the Government of Canada’s critical minerals strategy and desire to be a leader in the provision of clean energy solutions including nuclear power,” he says.
NexGen, which is also listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, says Rook I is the largest development-stage uranium project in Canada.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: NexGen Energy
