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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 Under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of February, 2008
Cameco Corporation
(Commission file No. 1-14228)
2121-11th Street West
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7M 1J3
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form
20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F o Form 40-F þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b):
Exhibit Index
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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Page No. |
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1.
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Press Release dated February 19, 2008
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Date: February 20, 2008 |
Cameco Corporation
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By: |
Gary
M.S. Chad
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Gary M.S. Chad, Q.C. |
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Senior Vice-President, Governance,
Law and Corporate Secretary |
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TSX: CCO NYSE: CCJ
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website: cameco.com currency: Cdn |
2121 11th Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7M 1J3 Canada
Tel: (306) 956-6200 Fax: (306) 956-6201
Cameco Announces Progress in Cigar Lake Remediation
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, February 19, 2008.
Cameco Corporation announced today that significant progress has been made in remediation efforts
at the Cigar Lake uranium project.
Remediation work has been underway since October 2006 when a rockfall resulted in a flood of the
underground development. Construction was about 60% complete at that time.
We have completed pouring a concrete barrier in the area of the inflow and reinforcing a tunnel
adjacent to the rockfall. This includes injection of cement into the rock around the area of the
inflow to seal off the area. In addition, we have just completed a test on the effectiveness of the
underground seal. The results are positive and demonstrate that the seal is effective with no
indication of plug deterioration throughout the six-day testing period. Additional testing will be
conducted as we prepare to dewater the mine.
On February 12, 2008, we began testing the effectiveness of the seal by pumping water from the
shaft down to approximately 100 metres below surface. When the water was down to that level, the
pumps were turned off and we measured the rate at which the water rose in the shaft. The water was
allowed to rise to a set elevation before pumping it down again to the 100-metre level. This
procedure was repeated a number of times during the test period which ended on February 18, 2008.
There are a number of activities that must now take place before we can begin dewatering the
underground development. We need to complete an assessment to determine if depressurization,
reinforcement or other precautionary measures are necessary in two other areas of the mine. We
anticipate results from this assessment in the first quarter of 2008 and can then determine if
additional remediation is required in these areas.
In addition to the technical work, we need to complete many of the corrective actions arising from
the root cause investigation before applying for regulatory approval to dewater the mine.
We are preparing a regulatory application to allow dewatering of the underground development
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and
all other remediation activities leading up to, but not including the restart of mine construction.
We plan to submit this application to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in the first half of
the year. Therefore, if the application is approved we anticipate dewatering in the second half of
2008, as previously announced.
Cameco is also conducting an assessment of the partially completed second shaft to gather more
detailed images of the structures and geology to facilitate mine remediation and future mine
planning. We are targeting substantial completion of this assessment in the first half of 2008.
Installation of the ventilation fans on surface, slurry load-out facilities and surface pipelines
is currently underway at the site.
We continue to anticipate production startup by 2011 at the earliest. We will be able to provide a
firmer production date after the mine has been dewatered, the condition of the underground
development has been assessed, and the findings incorporated in the new mine development and
production plans.
Cameco owns 50% and is operator of the Cigar Lake project located in northern Saskatchewan.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
Statements contained in this news release which are not current statements or historical facts are
forward-looking information (as defined under Canadian securities laws) and forward-looking
statements (as defined in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which may be
material and that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by them. The above Cigar Lake expected production
date and certain other statements regarding our plans and expectations for the resumption of
production are forward-looking information and are based upon the following key assumptions and
subject to the following factors that could cause results to differ materially:
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we have assumed the success and timely completion of our dewatering and remediation efforts
(including favourable results of geotechnical assessments), which are subject to the risk that
they do not succeed as anticipated or take longer to complete than anticipated; |
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our ability to obtain and comply with the terms of, and the timing of, various regulatory
approvals, which are subject to the risk of taking longer to obtain than anticipated, or our
inability to comply with their terms; and |
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our expectation regarding the condition of the existing underground workings is correct,
which is subject to the risk that actual conditions prove to be worse. |
We have also assumed that there are no further disruptions to our dewatering and other remediation
plans, but we are subject to the risk of delays arising from natural phenomena, such as fires,
floods or cave-ins; the occurrence of another water inflow at Cigar Lake; failure of our radiation
protection plans, labour disputes, litigation or arbitration proceedings; delays in obtaining or
failure to procure the required equipment, operating parts and supplies; equipment failure;
unexpected geological or hydrological conditions, and adverse ground conditions.
If actual results differ materially from the assumptions set out above or if any of the material
risk factors
above occur, the target date for the completion of dewatering Cigar Lake, and its production
restart date, may differ materially from the expected dates that are stated above.
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There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the material
risk factors. Additional risk factors are noted in Camecos current annual information form and in
Camecos current annual MD&A.
The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release represent Camecos
views as of the date of this news release and should not be relied upon as representing Camecos
views as of any subsequent date. While Cameco anticipates that subsequent events and developments
may cause its views to change, Cameco specifically disclaims any intention or obligation to update
forward-looking information and statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
information and statements contained in this news release regarding Cigar Lake remediation and our
plans and expectations for resumption of Cigar Lake production is presented for the purpose of
assisting Camecos shareholders in understanding managements current views regarding those future
outcomes, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could vary, or differ materially, from those
anticipated in them. Accordingly, readers of this news release should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information and statements.
Qualified Person
The above scientific and technical information for Cigar Lake was prepared under the supervision of
C. Scott Bishop, a professional engineer employed by Cameco as the chief mine engineer of the Cigar
Lake project and a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
Profile
Cameco, with its head office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the worlds largest uranium producer.
The companys uranium products are used to generate electricity in nuclear energy plants around the
world, providing one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. Camecos shares trade on
the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
End
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Investor and media inquiries:
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Alice Wong
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(306) 956-6337 |
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Investor inquiries:
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Bob Lillie
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(306) 956-6639 |
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Media inquiries:
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Lyle Krahn
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(306) 956-6316 |
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