By Charles Pitts
VANCOUVER : NexGen Energy Ltd. has officially commenced site preparation and construction on its flagship Rook I uranium project located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan. The milestone follows the receipt of the Federal Licence to Prepare Site and Construct from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), which remains valid through March 2036, marking the transition of the project from the regulatory phase into active development.
Anchored by the high-grade Arrow deposit, the underground mine and mill complex is designed to become the world’s largest tier-one uranium production facility. According to technical projections, the operation is engineered to yield up to 14 million kilograms of U3O8 annually over an estimated 24-year mine life, positioning the asset as a cornerstone for future global nuclear fuel supply chains.
Capital expenditures for the construction phase are projected between C$1.3 billion and C$2.2 billion. The development is anticipated to serve as a major economic driver for the region, directly generating approximately 1,400 jobs during peak construction and ongoing production phases, alongside substantial procurement and service contracts across Saskatchewan and Canada.
While site preparation and heavy construction are now underway, commercial operation of the underground mine and mill remains subject to a future operating licence approval from the CNSC. NexGen continues to advance infrastructure development on-site under the current federal permit framework as global demand for critical energy transition minerals accelerates.
