McClean Lake Operational Update - Vice President Operations

As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to recognize the community members, leaders, contractors, and our employees who have faced big challenges in their work and home life. We here at McClean and Orano Canada have been fortunate in that none of our people have tested positive for this virus but we offer our support and empathy to those who have not been so fortunate. Thank you to everyone who has rolled with the changes around the McClean Lake mill to safely enter care and maintenance, adjust projects and maintenance timelines, deal with spring runoff, and generally adapt our processes to protect all of us from the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the corporate level, we have supported four emergency response groups in northern Saskatchewan that have a wide reach into over 30 First Nations, Métis and northern communities. They have the teams in place to make sure that seniors, low-income families and other vulnerable people are looked after. We also donated to the Friendship Inn in Saskatoon to support them as they adapt to serve their clients individually bagged meals for breakfast and lunch. The Food Banks of Saskatchewan have also been seeing increased demand, so we are asking employees to direct a donation to any Food Bank and Orano Canada will match that donation. These are a few ways that we can help our communities pull through this difficult time.

From social distancing, to face coverings, to the restrictions on our communal spaces, I know that there have been many changes. We have good processes in place that, when followed, can ensure the continuance of our wellbeing. These measures are part of the new reality of the workplace, which we all must get used to in order to protect our health and the health of our colleagues and families back home.

Though a date when we will restart the mill remains uncertain, we have decided to take the opportunity to progress some work that was initially planned for the summer shutdown while the mill is not operating and COVID constraints are generally beginning to lessen in the province.

We will be taking a phased and cautious approach to gradually increasing the number of people on site and will monitor the situation carefully. We are doing our best to stay out of vulnerable communities and have implemented extra health screening when workers arrive at site. All persons returning to site are now undergoing a COVID-specific orientation program to describe our new protection practices and expectations.

Employees need to follow the new mask protocol on flights, which was recommended by Transport Canada and wear their mask whenever they are in close proximity with other employees. This PPE will be supplied at pick up points and site.

Prior to flights, employees can expect a phone call to make sure they are able to come to work. The same screening will be done for contractors and if they do not comply they will not be allowed on site. We will also be doing temperature monitoring so that we may better detect and react to any emerging illness. Attached is a poster of the precautionary measures being taken at site, which will be regularly updated as conditions change.

Lastly, employees are asked to commit to appropriate behaviour when off site. As mentioned we haven’t had any COVID-19 cases at McClean and we are working to keep it that way, so please keep that in mind while you are at home.

Thank you everyone for pulling together as a team.

Stay healthy,

Dale Huffman
Vice President, Operations
Orano Canada Inc.