Uranium fuel supplier Cameco will place its UF6 plant at the Port Hope conversion facility, in Ontario, in a temporary safe shutdown state for four weeks, as it faces difficulty in maintaining an adequate workforce as a result of screening protocols and other measures put in place to combat the Covid-19 health crisis.
“While our fuel services facilities have been able to operate safely, it has become increasingly challenging to maintain a sufficient roster of qualified operators for the UF6 plant,” Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel said on Tuesday.
“The UF6 plant is designed for continuous operation, and we need to prevent unplanned interruptions arising from personnel shortages.”