Provisions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

15. Provisions



		Reclamation		Waste disposal			Total


Beginning of year		$	905,400		$	8,140	$	913,540
Changes in estimates and discount rates [note 8]
	Capitalized in property, plant and equipment		72,701			-		72,701
	Recognized in earnings		59,616			1,690		61,306
Change to equity accounting [note 11]			(3,049)			-		(3,049)
Provisions used during the period			(30,771)			(540)		(31,311)
Unwinding of discount [note 19]			23,511			170		23,681
Effect of movements in exchange rates			26,484			-		26,484

End of period		$	1,053,892		$	9,460	$	1,063,352


Current		$	51,171		$	1,145	$	52,316
Non-current			1,002,721			8,315		1,011,036

		$	1,053,892		$	9,460	$	1,063,352

A. Reclamation provision

Cameco's estimates of future decommissioning obligations are based on reclamation standards that satisfy regulatory requirements. Elements of uncertainty in estimating these amounts include potential changes in regulatory requirements, decommissioning and reclamation alternatives and amounts to be recovered from other parties.

Cameco estimates total undiscounted future decommissioning and reclamation costs for its existing operating assets to be $1,157,208,000 (2017 - $1,051,746,000). The expected timing of these outflows is based on life-of-mine plans with the majority of expenditures expected to occur after 2023. These estimates are reviewed by Cameco technical personnel as required by regulatory agencies or more frequently as circumstances warrant. In connection with future decommissioning and reclamation costs, Cameco has provided financial assurances of $1,050,546,000 (2017 - $1,011,613,000) in the form of letters of credit to satisfy current regulatory requirements.

The reclamation provision relates to the following segments:


		2018		2017


Uranium	$	828,781	$	669,835
Fuel services		225,111		235,565

Total	$	1,053,892	$	905,400

B. Waste disposal

The fuel services segment consists of the Blind River refinery, Port Hope conversion facility and Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc.. The refining, conversion and manufacturing processes generate certain uranium contaminated waste. These include contaminated combustible material (paper, rags, gloves, etc.) and contaminated non-combustible material (metal parts, soil from excavations, building and roofing materials, spent uranium concentrate drums, etc.). These materials can in some instances be recycled or reprocessed. A provision for waste disposal costs in respect of these materials is recognized when they are generated.

Cameco estimates total undiscounted future costs related to existing waste disposal to be $9,617,000 (2017 - $8,239,000). The majority of these expenditures are expected to occur within the next six years.