PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - French nuclear group Areva

AREVA.PA said on Thursday that production had begun at Canadian uranium producer Cameco's CCO.TO Cigar Lake mine in Saskatchewan.

Cameco has had to delay the start of production at the high-grade uranium mine for work, but said last month it expected to bring the project into production in the first quarter. ID:nL2N0LD02K

Areva said the first uranium ore from the mine was leaving on Thursday for the French group's McClean Lake mill located about 70 kilometres (43 miles) away.

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas, editing by James Regan)

((leigh.thomas@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 4949 5143; Reuters Messaging: leigh.thomas.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AREVA CAMECO