Denison Mines' Phoenix Receives Final Federal Licence, Moves to Construction Readiness

Denison Clears Final Federal Hurdle for Phoenix

Wheeler River Moves Into Construction Readiness

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s administrative tribunal approves the Environmental Assessment and issues the Licence to Prepare Site & Construct a Mine and Mill for Denison Mines’ Phoenix in‑situ recovery (ISR) project at Wheeler River, providing the final federal regulatory approval required to begin construction. The licence follows a provincial EA approval and a seven‑year program of studies, engagement and regulatory review, and moves Denison from permitting into construction readiness for what the company frames as Canada’s first ISR uranium mine and the first large‑scale uranium project approved for construction in more than 20 years.

David Cates, Denison’s president and chief executive, calls the decision a landmark achievement for the company, its Indigenous partners and stakeholders, and says Denison demonstrates Phoenix can meet Canada’s stringent safety and environmental standards. The company is completing detailed engineering, finalizing procurement schedules and advancing financing plans so it can make a Final Investment Decision and commence mobilization shortly after regulatory reporting and monitoring commitments are in place. Denison stresses continued collaborative consultation with Indigenous communities, provincial authorities and local stakeholders as construction planning proceeds.

The federal licence authorizes site preparation and construction of a mine and mill, enabling Denison to move planned capital into procurement and workforce mobilization that it says will deliver regional economic and employment benefits. The decision also sets a precedent for ISR in Canada, underscoring regulatory confidence in the technology when paired with robust environmental protections and community engagement. Denison frames the approval as a nation‑building development that consolidates years of engineering, community consultation and regulatory work into an actionable construction program.

Construction management and execution

Following a competitive tender, Denison awards Wood Canada Limited the construction management contract to oversee Phoenix construction, leveraging Wood’s role in co‑authoring the 2023 Feasibility Study and leading detailed design work over the past two years. John Day, president of Projects Western Hemisphere at Wood, says his firm values Denison’s continued trust and looks forward to leading construction, with an emphasis on continuity of engineering, supply chain alignment and health, safety and security programs.

Denison says the CM contract enables earlier procurement commitments and contractor mobilization, and that teams are actively onboarding key construction personnel to be ready for site preparation as soon as mobilisation is permitted. The company highlights ongoing plans for environmental, Indigenous and community engagement, logistics planning and regulatory reporting as it transitions from multi‑year permitting into the construction phase.