Participant funding for Orano’s application to renew its licence for the McClean Lake Operation

Status

This participant funding opportunity is open from October 20 to December 19, 2025.

Participant funding notice

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will conduct a hearing based on written submissions in September 2026 to consider an application from Orano Canada Inc. (Orano) to renew its uranium mine and mill licence for the McClean Lake Operation for a period of 2 years.

The McClean Lake Operation is located within the eastern part of the Athabasca Basin region in northern Saskatchewan, approximately 750 kilometres north of Saskatoon, on Treaty 10 territory (1906) and within the Homeland of the Métis, as well as within the traditional territories of the Denesųłiné, Cree and Métis.

This 2-year licence renewal application is an administrative request to change the licence term and continue activities at the McClean Lake Operation until June 30, 2029. Orano is not requesting any changes to the licensed activities or operations at this time.

Orano intends to request approval of new mining activities in a future application. This current renewal will allow Orano sufficient time to complete a comprehensive application for the proposed changes.

The CNSC is offering participant funding to assist Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and interested parties in:

• reviewing documentation, including CNSC staff’s and Orano’s Commission member documents
• providing new, distinctive and valuable information through informed and topic-specific interventions in writing to the Commission

Up to $50,000 in participant funding will be disbursed among all successful applicants.

Applying for funding

The deadline to submit a participant funding application is December 19, 2025.

A funding review committee, independent of the CNSC, will consider all applications for funding and make recommendations on the allocation of funds.

To apply, please submit a participant funding application form. Certain terms and conditions apply. You can submit the form by:

• Email: pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
• Mail: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
  c/o Participant Funding Program Administrator
  280 Slater St
  PO Box 1046 Stn B
  Ottawa ON  K1P 5S9

For information on how to participate, consult the Participate in a public Commission hearing and Participant Funding Program sections of the CNSC website.

Eligibility and funding criteria

For more information on participant funding and how it works, including details on eligibility and funding criteria, please read the Participant Funding Program Guide.

Contact information

Participant Funding Program Administrator
pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca