Proposed nuclear facility – Patterson Lake South Project
Paladin Canada Inc. is proposing to prepare a site for and construct a uranium mine and mill at its Patterson Lake South property located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, approximately 155 km north of La Loche, Saskatchewan.
The proposed Patterson Lake South Project includes underground and surface facilities to support the mining and processing of uranium ore. The main components include an underground mine, an onsite mill to process an average of 1,000 tonnes of ore per day, surface facilities to support the short- and long-term storage of waste rock and ore, an underground tailings management facility, water-handling infrastructure and an effluent treatment circuit, and additional infrastructure to support mining activities.
To proceed, the proposed project requires authorization from the CNSC in the form of a licence issued under subsection 24(2) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA).
CNSC staff have completed a sufficiency check of the licensing documents submitted by Paladin Canada for the Patterson Lake South project and determined that the application meets the threshold required under the Uranium Mines and Mills Regulations, meaning the Commission will formally consider the application at a public hearing.
The hearing date and related details will be shared on the Commission Registry website as they become available.
| Location: | Patterson Lake, Northern Saskatchewan |
|---|---|
| Licensee Applicant: | Paladin Canada Inc. |
| Owner: | Paladin Canada Inc. |
| Facility Type: | Uranium mine and mill |
| Status: | Application under review |
| Facility website: | https://www.paladinenergy.com.au/pls/ |
Latest news
Commission proceedings
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal set up at arm’s length from government, without ties to the nuclear industry. Use the links below to find documents related to Commission meetings or hearings.
- No recent Commission proceedings
Regulatory actions
The CNSC posts regulatory enforcement actions taken to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. Use the links below to find out more about any orders or penalties that have been placed on this licensee.
- No recent regulatory actions
Disclosure
Licensees must report events and incidents involving licensed activities that could impact the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment to the CNSC. Use the links below to find any information provided by this licensee, as well as other public disclosures made by licensees.
- No recent disclosures
Timeline
A summary of regulatory milestones and updates for the facility can be found below.
- June 11, 2026: CNSC letter to Paladin Canada Inc. regarding Patterson Lake South Project
- February 18, 2026: Saskatchewan Minister of Environment renders Decision and Reasons for Decision of the Project.
- September 3, 2025: Notice of corporation name change received from Paladin Canada Inc. (formerly Fission Uranium Corp.)
- April 3, 2023: Fission Uranium Corp. submits licence application and the CNSC initiates review
- November 14, 2022: Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Response to Designation Request for the Fission Nuclear Corp. Patterson Lake South proposal to construct and operate a uranium mine and mill and conclusion that the project does not warrant designation pursuant to subsection 9 of the Impact Assessment Act.
- February 12, 2022: Public Notice of Environmental Impact Assessment, Fission Uranium Corp. – Patterson Lake South Project
- December 13, 2021: Minister of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan: Ministerial Determination – Environmental Impact Assessment – Fission Uranium Corporation – Patterson Lake South Project
Protecting Canadians and the environment
Environment
A provincial environmental assessment decision affirming that the proposed activities will not cause significant adverse environmental effects is required before the Commission can make a licensing decision on this proposal.
The CNSC uses information provided by licensees and applicants to create our own reports assessing the environmental effects of nuclear facilities or licensed activities.
- Independent Environmental Monitoring Program: Site-specific sampling plans for each nuclear facility
- Federal, provincial and municipal monitoring programs: List of monitoring programs managed by other levels of government
Health and safety
The CNSC oversees licensee emergency planning and works with other levels of government to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. We also conduct and review health studies on various areas associated with the production, possession, or use of nuclear substances.
- CNSC health studies on uranium miners: Relevant health studies of CNSC-regulated nuclear facilities and activities
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