Wildfires in Western Canada force miners to halt operations, shipments

Wild fires in Western Canada force miners to halt operations, shipments

(Image: Screen shot from Global News Saskatoon)

The over 400 wildfires currently raging in Canada’s Western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have forced miners to suspend operations and shipments.

The latest victim is Claude Resources (TSX:CRJ), which announced Monday it has suspended operations at its Seabee gold mine in northern Saskatchewan, as a wildfire about eight kilometres south of the operation could expand.

The gold miner said mill production has so far not been affected thanks to stockpiled ore at the site.

Last week Cameco Corp. (TSX:CCO) and Areva Resources Canada had to suspend uranium shipments from their northern Saskatchewan operations because of wildfires, but mining operations weren’t affected.

British Columbia and Saskatchewan have been facing exceptionally hot, dry and windy conditions, which have created a number of extreme fires. About 13,000 people have been displaced in Saskatchewan.

Experts says fires could burn all the way up to the first snowfall.

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