Denison Mines has taken a decisive step towards launching one of Canada’s most closely watched uranium projects, handing engineering giant Wood the keys to construction management for its flagship Phoenix in-situ recovery mine.
The contract signals that Denison Mines Corp. is moving from planning to execution mode at the Wheeler River project—pending final federal approvals—with site work poised to begin as soon as permits land.
David Cates, President & CEO of Denison, commented, "In anticipation of receiving our Federal permits to prepare the site and construct the Wheeler River project, we are pleased to announce the award of the construction management contract to our trusted partners at Wood.
"The selection of Wood for construction management allows us to leverage our long-standing relationship with Wood's Canadian team, which began with co-authoring the 2023 Feasibility Study for Phoenix and continued with the detailed design engineering for the Project over the last two years.
"We are actively organizing our teams, including the onboarding of key construction personnel, to ensure we are ready to proceed with site preparation as soon as possible upon receipt of all required permits.
"Given Denison's strong balance sheet, and advanced state of project engineering, construction planning, and procurement, we stand ready to make a Final Investment Decision and commence construction shortly after securing Federal approval of the Environmental Assessment and Licence to Prepare the Site for & Construct a Mine and Mill."
Wood, already deeply embedded in the project after leading feasibility and design work, will now oversee procurement, plant construction, infrastructure installation, and on-site safety—effectively anchoring the transition from blueprint to build in what’s expected to be a 24-month construction sprint.
Kris Homer, Senior Vice President of Minerals and Metals West at Wood, commented: "We value Denison's continued trust in our team and look forward to working together to lead the Wheeler River project through the construction phase. Having supported Phoenix from the feasibility stage through detailed design, we understand the technical and execution requirements of this project.
"Our priority is to enable a safe and seamless transition into execution – maintaining continuity of personnel, applying disciplined project management, and ensuring a predictable path to first production for this landmark project in the Canadian uranium industry. We look forward to continuing to work as an integrated team with Denison, combining our complementary project, construction, and uranium expertise to deliver Phoenix safely and successfully."
The deal cements continuity across every phase of the Phoenix project—from feasibility to design to construction—giving Denison a tighter grip on timelines as it races towards a final investment decision.
With engineering largely complete and procurement planning advanced, the company is positioning itself to move fast once regulators give the green light.
