Uranium producer Paladin Energy said on Tuesday that Metis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN-S) has filed for judicial review challenging the February 19 approval of its environmental impact statement for the Patterson Lake South project.
The review application has been lodged in the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench and is directed at both the Government of Saskatchewan and Paladin, the company said.
Paladin said its Canada unit has been consulting with Metis Nation–Saskatchewan on the project for many years. But the petition alleges the province “inadequately consulted” MN-S before granting the approval.
The Metis Nation-Saskatchewan is a government that represents the indigenous Metis citizens in Canada’s Saskatchewan, per their website.
The application seeks to have the environment ministry’s approval set aside and requests an interim injunction preventing Paladin from taking action in reliance on the approval, pending a judicial determination of the case.
Paladin has denied the claims made in the application, and said it intends to defend its position.
Shares of the firm closed 1.2% lower at A$11.05.
(By Anjali Singh; Editing by Sumana Nandy)
