Cameco’s UF6 plant at the Port Hope conversion facility in Ontario, Canada, will be placed in a temporary safe shutdown state for about four weeks as the company faces “the increasing challenge” of maintaining an adequate workforce as a result of screening protocols and other measures put in place to deal with the coronavirus health crisis.

The company said where possible, maintenance work at the facility scheduled for the summer will be advanced. Work to place the plant in safe shutdown mode will occur over the coming days, a statement said on 8 April. 

Cameco said the UF6 plant is currently operating safely. However, the Covid-19 related screening protocols and other measures the company has put in place to align with the directives and guidance of government and public health authorities have created “significant difficulty” in achieving the workforce levels required for continued operation.