MLA for Lloydminster, Colleen Young in her capacity as Saskatchewan’s energy and resources minister visited the Rook I Project in the province’s northwest this week.
The venture is a major underground uranium mine and mill being developed by NexGen Energy in the Athabasca Basin, home to the world’s richest high-grade uranium reserves.
The Rook I site is awaiting final federal approval before construction can begin. Once operational, it’s expected to become one of the largest uranium production facilities globally, with an estimated $2.2 billion investment and the potential to create 2,300 construction jobs and 430 permanent positions in Saskatchewan.
Young praised the project’s scale and impact, saying it will “significantly increase Saskatchewan’s uranium output and further strengthen our position as a key producer in the global energy supply chain.”
NexGen CEO Leigh Curyer said the company is ready to begin construction immediately upon receiving federal approval. He highlighted NexGen’s commitment to safe, responsible, and sustainable development, noting strong support from local and Indigenous communities.
Sales
In 2024, Saskatchewan uranium sales hit a record $2.6 billion, surpassing the province’s 2030 target six years early. Production also rose to 16.7 thousand tonnes, a 28% increase over 2023.
With global demand for nuclear fuel rising, mining exploration spending in Saskatchewan is projected to exceed $400 million in 2025, and the province is expected to attract over $7 billion in mining investment, the highest in Canada.
