Uranium added to Nova Scotia critical minerals list as province seeks exploration

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."

The province's goal is to use uranium for nuclear energy and in medical isotopes to treat health conditions, but Janice Zinck, executive director of geoscience and mines at the Natural Resources Department, said uranium mining projects can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to ramp up.

"At least a decade in terms of doing all of the development work, permitting and raising funds, but each project is different and each advances at a different pace," Zinck told reporters.

Legislation passed in March lifted a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining from 1981, and a full ban from 2009. Premier Tim Houston has said the legislative changes were needed to make the province better able to withstand economic challenges from U.S. tariffs.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the uranium ban was the result of scientific study and public engagement, things that are lacking in the current government's approach.

"We hear about an economic development rush that the department itself says could be decades away, and in the meantime we have no idea how landowners and Indigenous communities will be consulted along the way," Chender said.

She also questioned the point of the list, given that many Nova Scotians are more concerned about the cost of living and issues such as a lack of housing and jobs. Chender said she believes it's a case of the government "needing something to say" about its plans for the economy.

Meanwhile, Rushton said silica, silver and tellurium have also been added to the critical minerals list, bringing the total number to 20. Silica is used for solar panels and semiconductors, while silver and tellurium are used for solar panels and thermoelectric devices.

Minerals are chosen for the list based on certain factors including their use in helping the province meet its emissions targets, global demand and the strategic economic opportunity they present for Nova Scotia. Currently none of the minerals on the list are being mined in the province.

Rushton also on Wednesday released a subset of "strategic minerals" that are also prioritized. They include aggregate which is used in the construction of roads, gold used for electronics and dentistry, gypsum used for drywall, plaster and cement, and potash that is used in fertilizer.