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NexGen begins final federal hearings for the Rook I nuclear project

NexGen Energy has opened Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearings for the final approval of its Rook I uranium project, following more than six years of regulatory process.

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The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has launched the first of two public hearings to decide on the final approval of the Rook I project, fully owned by NexGen Energy Ltd. The uranium mining project, located in Saskatchewan, marks the final stage of a federal process initiated in 2019. The project had already received provincial environmental assessment approval in November 2023.

The CNSC hearings represent the last regulatory step before a decision is made on granting a construction licence. NexGen has submitted several documents over the past six years, including a draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2022, followed by a final version accepted in January 2025 by Commission staff. The staff determined that NexGen’s responses to all technical and public comments were sufficient.

A process initiated in 2019

The official submission of the project description in 2019 marked the start of a federal and provincial regulatory process. Since then, the Rook I project has passed several key milestones, including the CNSC’s acceptance of the licence application in September 2023. The approval of the environmental study by the Province of Saskatchewan in November 2023 cleared the way for the final phase before the federal commission.

According to submitted documents, the project features a compact operational footprint and a design based on conventional technology. NexGen presented a video during the hearing describing the project’s technical specifications, along with the control and safety systems planned for the site.

Towards potential construction

The decision expected at the conclusion of the hearings will determine whether NexGen can begin construction work. The company plans to start on-site development immediately upon receiving federal approval. It reports having conducted more than twelve years of environmental studies and public consultation in preparing the Rook I project.

The project is positioned as a strategic asset within Canada’s uranium sector. Development of the site could have a significant impact on Saskatchewan’s nuclear industry and local economic prospects. The Commission will continue its review during a second public hearing, with a date yet to be announced.

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