Cigar Lake is Cameco’s newest uranium mine located in northern Saskatchewan. During construction it was decided that a lubrication program needed to be implemented to ensure that critical assets were properly maintained. The mine offers challenges in that there is not just one plant or area to setup. There is a fleet of equipment both underground and surface with mobile and stationary assets. In addition there is diesel power generation and a fleet of freeze compressors installed. Each area presents its own challenges and opportunities when setting up a program.
There are several aspects of a lubrication program that need to work together to ensure reliability. This presentation will share Cigar Lake’s journey from ground zero towards a world class lubrication program, one that was featured in Machinery Lubrication’s 2016 Lube Room Challenge edition.
Why a lubrication program is needed will be discussed. In addition, the improvements made to program management, storage and inventory management, cleanliness, product standardization and sampling will be presented. Lastly, some of the specialized assets in use at the mine will be highlighted and discussed on how they fit into the program.
