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 August, 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.
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.
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b):
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TSX: CCO
NYSE: CCJ
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website: cameco.com
currency: Cdn (unless
otherwise noted) |
2121 11th Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7M 1J3 Canada
Tel: (306) 956-6200 Fax: (306) 956-6201
Cameco Reports Update on Dewatering at Cigar Lake
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, August 12, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cameco Corporation reports that remediation work at the No.1 Shaft at its Cigar Lake uranium
project was temporarily suspended today after an increase in the rate of water inflow to the mine
was observed.
Remediation and dewatering of the No. 1 Shaft had been progressing smoothly up to this point,
said Tim Gitzel, Camecos chief operating officer. An inflow at this rate is disappointing but our
remediation plan, as approved by our joint venture partners, recognized the risk and included
specific actions to be taken at various levels of inflow.
No. 1 Shaft had been pumped down to 430 metres below surface when the increase was reported early
Tuesday morning. Work in the shaft was suspended a few hours later. During the day, the inflow rate
increased steadily to approximately 600 cubic metres per hour (m3/hr), which is beyond
the range that can be managed while sustaining work in the shaft. The mine has a total depth of 500
metres and the mine underground workings are at the 480-metre level.
Work in the shaft has been suspended while the situation is assessed to determine the source and
characteristics of the inflow, implications for planned remediation work and the impact, if any, on
our planned production date.
Our current plan is to allow the water level in the shaft to rise to approximately 100 metres below
surface. This will allow additional data to be gathered from instruments used to monitor
groundwater conditions. As the water level rises, the rate of inflow will naturally diminish. This
information will be analyzed to determine next steps. After this is complete, the water will be
allowed to return to the natural equilibrium level.
As previously disclosed, the remediation plan for Cigar Lake includes options to address excess
inflows including additional grouting from surface and ground freezing if necessary.
Pumping capacity is 1,000 m3/hr from four dedicated dewatering pumps installed in wells
down to the 500-metre level. The water management system is limited by the treated water release
limit of 550 m3/hr under the existing licence. There is a 74,000 cubic metre
contingency storage pond at the surface that allows pumping at rates above the release limit for a
limited period.
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We will provide an update in our second quarter news release which will be issued on Thursday,
August 14 with a conference call to follow at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Qualified person
The above scientific and technical information for Cigar Lake was prepared under the supervision of
Grant Goddard, a professional engineer employed by Cameco as the general manager of the Cigar Lake
project and a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101.
Profile
Cameco operates and owns 50% of the Cigar Lake project located in northern Saskatchewan. 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.
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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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Gord Struthers
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(306) 956-6593 |
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