Cameco Corporation: International Uranium Industry Analysis

The Cameco Corporation is an international uranium producer accounting for about 16% of global production (Cameco, 2015). With mines in Canada, the United States and Kazakhstan, Cameco has approximately 429 million pounds of uranium reserves (Cameco, 2015). The uranium industry (specifically in Canada) is composed of firms that mine, refine and convert uranium ore into uranium dioxide and uranium hexafluoride both of which are used to produce fuel bundles for nuclear reactors across Canada (Natural Resources Canada, 2014). The Cameco Corporation is a key producer of this uranium not only in Canada but the world. Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility (NPRI ID 1145) is the only Uranium conversion plant in Canada, one of four in the western world …show more content…
Acid rain has significant impacts on aquatic ecosystems and forests as it can reduce available nutrients in water and soil (Acid Rain, 2015) and smog has been found to contribute to pre-mature deaths, visibility and effects on vegetation (Environment Canada, 2014). There is little reason to be concerned about the first set of chemicals released into the atmosphere. These air pollutants easily disperse and only cause serious damages if released into water at high doses. Currently, as they are released only in the air they are of little impact environmentally. The CAC’s however pose higher risk that may be of some concern. Acid rain and smog caused by CAC’s can cause serious environmental degradation over time and can only be reduced by lowering the air pollution as a whole. This may be an area in the future that Cameco may need to focus on if pollution policy becomes …show more content…
Through the early operations that took place under the conversion facilities predecessors: Eldorado Nuclear Limited, low-level radioactive waste produced through chemical reactions with uranium (which in itself is radioactive) were deposited in several locations across the local community. (The impact of this material does not appear on the NPRI website as it was released into the environment well before 2000). Due to increasing environmental regulation, public awareness and pressure from both Port Hope residents and governments Cameco has established the Port Hope Area Initiative. This community headed group is currently overseeing the clean up over 1.2 million cubic metres of historic low-level radioactive waste from across Port Hope (Port Hope Area Initiative, 2014). The Port Hope project’s primary tasks