REGINA — A major milestone has been achieved for NexGen Energy Ltd. with the marking of the official start of construction for its Rook I uranium project in northwest Saskatchewan.
An official groundbreaking took place Thursday at the Rook I site, located in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, about 160 kilometres north of La Loche.
Among those attending the ceremony were federal Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, Premier Scott Moe and former prime minister Stephen Harper, as well as leaders from the local and surrounding area.
“Today, we transition from demonstrating what this project will be to delivering it — for the benefit of local communities, Saskatchewan, Canada and the world,” NexGen founder and CEO Leigh Curyer said in a statement.
According to the company, the $2.2-billion uranium mine project will be constructed over the next four years. Once it is up and running, the company says it could produce approximately 30 million pounds of uranium annually.
The project comes at what is considered a boom time for demand for uranium and clean energy all around the world. NexGen Energy points to the project happening at a time when nuclear energy is taking on an increasing role, with electricity demand continuing to grow.
“The world is changing,” Curyer said in a statement. “Artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, electrification and energy security are driving unprecedented demand for electricity. Nuclear energy has become key to meeting that demand — and with it, uranium has become one of the world’s most strategic resources. This project is also about creating careers, supporting Indigenous businesses, building local capacity and investing in infrastructure. It is about creating opportunities for young people to build their futures at home here in northern Saskatchewan.”
Speaking to SaskToday, NexGen Energy’s vice-president of regional development, Dylan Smart, pointed to the years of intense effort that got the company to this point.
“I always like to say that good things take time; great things take a little longer,” Smart said.
“The day was really a culmination of years of work, planning, permitting and putting that all together, and really everyone coming together, whether that was the federal government, provincial government … everyone coming together to celebrate such a milestone.”
Smart said that on the plane ride in, “when the flight attendant said, ‘We are now making our final descent to Rook I,’ I got a little emotional, and I think all of us here who have been working on this for years all did. And it was just such a great day … to showcase what can happen when people come together, sharing a vision and a common objective.”
Among the efforts was developing partnerships with local communities and First Nations. The company said benefit agreements were put in place with all four Indigenous communities identified within the project’s Local Priority Area.
Smart said building that trust with First Nations was an important part of securing the approvals for the project from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, with local Indigenous communities supporting the company’s application.
“When I came to NexGen, one of the first stories that I heard was that before NexGen ever drilled a hole into Mother Earth, we went to the First Nations first,” Smart said.
“Our approach has always been to go in, listen to the communities, listen to the leadership, listen and then, from that, come back — that’s really the basis of how you can build that trust. Everything we do is, ‘Always judge us by our actions.’ Trust isn’t built overnight. It’s built with years of engagement and collaboration, and that’s something that NexGen, I truly believe, leads the sector in with how we’ve engaged.”
As for the economic impact of the project, the company estimates it could support 1,400 jobs, either directly or indirectly, on an annual basis.
“But for northern Saskatchewan and especially the communities, this is an opportunity to not just create jobs; it’s to create careers,” Smart said. “We are here to create careers and create that generational impact. And really, by working hand in hand with the communities, you know, we’ve invested millions of dollars into training programs. Because we know this is going to be a massive opportunity for employment, but it’s not just about offering that opportunity. It’s about making sure that people are set up for success.”
He said that to date, “we’ve had over 700 Indigenous people from the impacted area go through our training programs, and now that construction has started, it’s time to execute on that vision.”
According to NexGen’s news release, 300 people are currently working at the site right now. To date, more than 575,000 tonnes of aggregate have been crushed and stockpiled by a Clearwater River Dene Nation-partnered business, supporting up to 50 local jobs.
The company also said in its news release that major earthworks and surface infrastructure are advancing at the site, expanded site accommodations are now complete and occupied, and an initial 3,000-foot airstrip has been commissioned.
It is expected that the full 5,840-foot airstrip will be completed by December 2026, with shaft development planned for 2027.
