Cameco Temporarily Suspends Cigar Lake Mine Operations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Cameco announced our Cigar Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan has temporarily suspended operations due to challenges at Orano's McClean Lake mill, where Cigar Lake ore is processed. Orano's McClean Lake mill has encountered operational challenges with its sulfuric acid plant that caused it to shut down in order to repair the issue. Orano is currently working to bring the acid plant back online and is assessing options to obtain acid supply from an alternative source while it waits for replacement parts to complete the repair. With limited ore storage capacity at Cigar Lake, the company has temporarily suspended mining activities until sufficient acid is available to allow milling to resume at McClean Lake. The company said, "At present, we expect the McClean Lake mill to return to operation in approximately two weeks, and we do not expect the disruption to impact our 2026 production outlook for Cigar Lake. However, there is a risk that the repairs to the acid plant take longer than planned and that mining at Cigar Lake is unable to resume on the expected schedule. Depending on the duration of any additional delays, our 2026 production outlook could be impacted."
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Analyst Views on CCJ
Wall Street analysts forecast CCJ stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 97.500
Low
71.80
Averages
105.67
High
118.78
Current: 97.500
Low
71.80
Averages
105.67
High
118.78
About CCJ
Cameco Corporation is a provider of uranium fuel to generate baseload electricity around the globe. Its segments include uranium, fuel services and Westinghouse. The uranium segment involves the exploration for, mining, milling, purchase and sale of uranium concentrate. The fuel services segment involves the refining, conversion and fabrication of uranium concentrate and the purchase and sale of conversion services. The Westinghouse segment reflects its earnings from this equity-accounted investment. Westinghouse is a nuclear reactor technology original equipment manufacturer and a global provider of products and services to commercial utilities and government agencies. It provides outage and maintenance services, engineering support, instrumentation and controls equipment, plant modification, and components and parts to nuclear reactors. It has two operating mines, Cigar Lake and McArthur River as well as a mill at Key Lake. It also has ownership interests in Global Laser Enrichment.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Cameco Completes Acquisition of Cigar Lake Stake
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- Market Position Strengthened: This acquisition boosts Cameco's ownership by 2.871 percentage points, further solidifying its status as one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, ensuring its dominant position in the future nuclear energy market.
- Strategic Investment: Cameco's ongoing investments in the uranium market, particularly the increased stake in Cigar Lake, reflect the company's confidence in the future of nuclear energy and will help meet global demand for safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power.
- Global Nuclear Solutions: Cameco's operations are supported not only by its high-grade uranium reserves but also by investments in Westinghouse Electric Company and Global Laser Enrichment, further enhancing its competitive advantage in providing global nuclear fuel solutions.
See More
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- Operations Halted: Cameco announced a temporary suspension of operations at its Cigar Lake uranium mine in Saskatchewan due to processing disruptions at Orano's McClean Lake mill, with expectations for McClean Lake to restart in about two weeks.
- Supply Risk: The operational issues stem from a malfunction at the sulfuric acid plant, prompting Orano to explore alternative acid supply options, which could pose downside risks to Cigar Lake's production outlook if repairs take longer than anticipated.
- Stable Production Outlook: Despite the current disruptions, Cameco does not expect any impact on its FY 2026 production outlook for Cigar Lake, although it has warned of potential consequences if repairs are delayed.
- Market Reaction: Cameco's stock has fallen nearly 30% from its all-time high, raising concerns about investor confidence in its future production capabilities, necessitating close monitoring of repair progress and its potential financial implications.
See More
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- Supply Chain Risks: The limited ore storage capacity at Cigar Lake necessitates the suspension of mining activities until sufficient sulfuric acid is available, highlighting the company's vulnerability in its raw material supply chain and potential impacts on future production plans.
- Forward-Looking Information: Cameco emphasizes that the suspension is temporary; however, if repairs take longer than anticipated, it may negatively affect the 2026 production outlook, reflecting the company's cautious stance regarding future uncertainties.
- Market Position: As one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, Cameco's competitive advantage lies in its high-grade reserves and low-cost operations, and despite current challenges, its position in the nuclear energy market remains robust.
See More
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- Earnings Outlook: The upcoming earnings report is projected to show an EPS of $0.36, a 29.41% decline year-over-year, with revenue expected at $534.36 million, reflecting a 15.69% drop, highlighting significant profitability pressures.
- Analyst Ratings: Currently, Cameco holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), with a 0.69% downward revision in EPS estimates over the past month, suggesting analysts' cautious outlook on the company's near-term business trends, which may affect investor confidence.
- Valuation Metrics: Cameco's forward P/E ratio stands at 85.75, significantly higher than the industry average of 17.88, indicating high market expectations for future growth but also prompting potential reevaluation of its valuation by investors.
See More
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- Increasing Market Demand: With governments worldwide ramping up investments in nuclear energy, Cameco's business outlook appears promising, particularly in meeting the rising electricity demand and reducing carbon emissions, which could drive sustained performance growth.
- Strategic Advantages: Leveraging its expertise in uranium production and supply chain management, Cameco is well-equipped to navigate market fluctuations, thereby maintaining a competitive edge in the nuclear energy market and enhancing its long-term profitability.
- Investor Confidence: Growing market confidence in Cameco is anticipated to lead to an increase in its stock price due to the nuclear sector's recovery, attracting more investor interest and further propelling the company's capital growth and market performance.
See More
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- Cameco's Value Chain Advantage: As the world's second-largest uranium miner, Cameco captures the entire uranium supply chain and is set to deliver over 28 million pounds of uranium over the next five years, ensuring significant pricing power and stable cash flows in the nuclear market.
- BWX's Technological Monopoly: BWX Technologies holds a monopoly in manufacturing nuclear reactors and components for the U.S. Navy, with a backlog of $8.6 billion in Q1 2026, up 75% year-over-year, indicating strong growth potential driven by increased defense spending.
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See More
Cameco Completes Acquisition of Cigar Lake Stake
- Acquisition Completed: Cameco and Orano Canada Inc. have finalized the acquisition of TEPCO Resources Inc.'s 5% participating interest, increasing Cameco's stake in the Cigar Lake uranium mine to 57.418% and Orano's to 42.582%, enhancing both companies' competitive positions in the uranium market.
- Market Position Strengthened: This acquisition boosts Cameco's ownership by 2.871 percentage points, further solidifying its status as one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, ensuring its dominant position in the future nuclear energy market.
- Strategic Investment: Cameco's ongoing investments in the uranium market, particularly the increased stake in Cigar Lake, reflect the company's confidence in the future of nuclear energy and will help meet global demand for safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power.
- Global Nuclear Solutions: Cameco's operations are supported not only by its high-grade uranium reserves but also by investments in Westinghouse Electric Company and Global Laser Enrichment, further enhancing its competitive advantage in providing global nuclear fuel solutions.
See More
Cameco Suspends Cigar Lake Operations Due to Processing Issues
- Operations Halted: Cameco announced a temporary suspension of operations at its Cigar Lake uranium mine in Saskatchewan due to processing disruptions at Orano's McClean Lake mill, with expectations for McClean Lake to restart in about two weeks.
- Supply Risk: The operational issues stem from a malfunction at the sulfuric acid plant, prompting Orano to explore alternative acid supply options, which could pose downside risks to Cigar Lake's production outlook if repairs take longer than anticipated.
- Stable Production Outlook: Despite the current disruptions, Cameco does not expect any impact on its FY 2026 production outlook for Cigar Lake, although it has warned of potential consequences if repairs are delayed.
- Market Reaction: Cameco's stock has fallen nearly 30% from its all-time high, raising concerns about investor confidence in its future production capabilities, necessitating close monitoring of repair progress and its potential financial implications.
See More
Cameco Suspends Cigar Lake Operations Due to Mill Issues
- Mining Suspension: Cameco has temporarily suspended operations at its Cigar Lake mine due to operational challenges at Orano's McClean Lake mill, which processes Cigar Lake ore; while operations are expected to resume in approximately two weeks, any delays in repairs could impact the 2026 production outlook.
- Supply Chain Risks: The limited ore storage capacity at Cigar Lake necessitates the suspension of mining activities until sufficient sulfuric acid is available, highlighting the company's vulnerability in its raw material supply chain and potential impacts on future production plans.
- Forward-Looking Information: Cameco emphasizes that the suspension is temporary; however, if repairs take longer than anticipated, it may negatively affect the 2026 production outlook, reflecting the company's cautious stance regarding future uncertainties.
- Market Position: As one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, Cameco's competitive advantage lies in its high-grade reserves and low-cost operations, and despite current challenges, its position in the nuclear energy market remains robust.
See More
Cameco Shares Decline Ahead of Poor Earnings Outlook
- Stock Performance: Cameco (CCJ) closed at $101.86, down 1.56% from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's 0.79% gain, indicating market concerns about its future performance.
- Earnings Outlook: The upcoming earnings report is projected to show an EPS of $0.36, a 29.41% decline year-over-year, with revenue expected at $534.36 million, reflecting a 15.69% drop, highlighting significant profitability pressures.
- Analyst Ratings: Currently, Cameco holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), with a 0.69% downward revision in EPS estimates over the past month, suggesting analysts' cautious outlook on the company's near-term business trends, which may affect investor confidence.
- Valuation Metrics: Cameco's forward P/E ratio stands at 85.75, significantly higher than the industry average of 17.88, indicating high market expectations for future growth but also prompting potential reevaluation of its valuation by investors.
See More
Cameco Positioned to Benefit from Nuclear Sector Growth
- Sector Growth Momentum: Cameco (CCJ) is strategically positioned to capitalize on the robust growth momentum in the nuclear sector, which is expected to significantly enhance its market share and revenue, reflecting the global shift towards clean energy.
- Increasing Market Demand: With governments worldwide ramping up investments in nuclear energy, Cameco's business outlook appears promising, particularly in meeting the rising electricity demand and reducing carbon emissions, which could drive sustained performance growth.
- Strategic Advantages: Leveraging its expertise in uranium production and supply chain management, Cameco is well-equipped to navigate market fluctuations, thereby maintaining a competitive edge in the nuclear energy market and enhancing its long-term profitability.
- Investor Confidence: Growing market confidence in Cameco is anticipated to lead to an increase in its stock price due to the nuclear sector's recovery, attracting more investor interest and further propelling the company's capital growth and market performance.
See More
Nuclear Energy Industry Sees Resurgence Opportunities
- Surge in Nuclear Demand: The U.S. government aims to increase nuclear energy capacity from around 100 GW to 400 GW by 2050, which is expected to drive billions in investments into the nuclear sector, reshaping the energy landscape to meet rising electricity demands.
- Cameco's Value Chain Advantage: As the world's second-largest uranium miner, Cameco captures the entire uranium supply chain and is set to deliver over 28 million pounds of uranium over the next five years, ensuring significant pricing power and stable cash flows in the nuclear market.
- BWX's Technological Monopoly: BWX Technologies holds a monopoly in manufacturing nuclear reactors and components for the U.S. Navy, with a backlog of $8.6 billion in Q1 2026, up 75% year-over-year, indicating strong growth potential driven by increased defense spending.
- Vistra's Market Expansion: Vistra has signed 20-year nuclear power purchase agreements with Meta and Amazon AWS, significantly enhancing revenue predictability, while its acquisition of Cogentrix will further solidify its presence in major power markets.
See More
