Construction is underway on one of Canada’s largest new mining projects inside the Athabasca Basin that will create economic ripple effects for communities across northeastern Alberta, including Fort McMurray. NexGen Energy has started work on the $2.2-billion Rook I uranium mine and mill, positioned on Treaty 8 territory in northern Saskatchewan and roughly 170 kilometres from Fort McMurray as the crow flies.
Regional access and workforce links
The Rook I development sits about 40 kilometres east of the Alberta–Saskatchewan border and is reachable year-round from La Loche. Highway 955 provides northbound access from La Loche, and an all-season road connects that highway to the project site, removing a longstanding seasonal barrier for crews and supplies. La Loche and Fort McMurray have long-standing economic ties, and the project’s supply and labour needs are expected to strengthen those connections.
NexGen says construction began in August and will take roughly four years to complete. Company figures indicate the development could support around 1,400 jobs annually, directly or indirectly, throughout the construction and development phase. At the official construction start, roughly 300 people were already employed at the site.
- Major earthworks and surface infrastructure are in progress.
- Expanded accommodation facilities at the site have been finished and are occupied.
- Local aggregate production has already supported employment through partner arrangements.
Indigenous partnerships and local procurement
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission notes the site lies on Treaty 8 lands, in the Homeland of the Métis and within Denesųłiné, Cree and Métis territories. NexGen has signed benefit agreements with multiple Indigenous governments, including Clearwater River Dene Nation, Birch Narrows Dene Nation, Buffalo River Dene Nation and Métis Nation–Saskatchewan. Those agreements are reported to include employment, training and other economic opportunities tied to the project.
One local business partnered with Clearwater River Dene Nation had crushed and stockpiled more than 575,000 tonnes of aggregate by the time construction was formally launched, a supply chain effort supporting up to 50 local jobs. That early activity is an example of how the project is drawing immediate regional contractors and materials suppliers.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Project cost | $2.2 billion |
| Distance from Fort McMurray (approx.) | 170 km |
| Estimated jobs supported annually | 1,400 |
| Workers already on site | 300 |
| Aggregate crushed and stockpiled | 575,000 tonnes |
Implications for Fort McMurray
For Fort McMurray businesses and workers, the Rook I development is likely to provide contracting chances, haulage and logistics work, and demand for accommodations and services during the multi-year build. The region’s established oilpatch supply chains and heavy-equipment capacity are natural complements to a major mine construction schedule, meaning Fort McMurray firms could win a slice of contracts for aggregate trucking, equipment rentals, and camp services.
That said, the project is located in Saskatchewan and governed by provincial permitting and federal nuclear oversight, and many operational decisions will be made by NexGen and its Indigenous partners. Construction timelines and job estimates are company projections; the full economic picture will unfold as the build proceeds and contracts are awarded.
Local officials and businesses in northeastern Alberta will be watching procurement plans and workforce postings closely to assess how much of the construction and service work will be captured regionally. For now, the Rook I site’s early-stage activity underscores a broader point: major resource projects, even when sited across provincial lines, can be a material source of work for Fort McMurray’s supply chain and labour pool.
As development proceeds over the next several years, Fort McMurray employers and workers will be watching for specific tender opportunities and training initiatives that would connect local capacity with the Rook I schedule.
