The Nova Scotia government added uranium to its list of priority critical minerals on Wednesday and issued a request for exploration proposals at three sites the province says have known deposits of the heavy metal.
Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton says the government hopes to reap economic benefits from the exploration in the future, although a department official said any potential mining project could be “decades” away.
“We are starting with exploration to learn about our uranium potential,” Rushton told a news conference in Halifax. “Through a request for proposals, we are opening up areas where we know that there are uranium deposits. We will engage with companies with a proven track record for safety and environmental responsibility to explore them.”
Each of the three sites is on private land and the minister said the government would begin talks with the landowners about its intent to explore the sites. The locations are: an 80-hectare site in Louisville in Pictou County; a 64-hectare site in East Dalhousie in Annapolis County; and a 2,300-hectare site in Millet Brook in Hants County.
“The world is demanding critical minerals that are mined responsibly, ethically and sustainably,” Rushton said. “We need to move on these opportunities today.”
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