Canada’s Saskatchewan to Build First Rare Earth Processing Facility

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan will build the country's first rare earth element (REE) processing plant. As an important part of its 2030 growth plan, the government of Saskatchewan in Canada announced that it will provide 31 million Canadian dollars in funding for a REE processing plant.

The processing plant will be owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). It will be Canada's first rare earth processing facility and will gradually begin to establish a REE supply chain in the province.

Canadian Prime Minister Scott Moe said in a statement: Saskatchewan's new rare earth processing facility will be a catalyst to stimulate the resource sector across Canada, providing the early-stage supply chain needed to generate cash-flow, investment, and industrial growth of the sector. It will also help ensure the competitiveness of Saskatchewan as we focus on our economic recovery and grow our province over the next decade.

The process of converting rare earth ore into a single REE product is mainly divided into two stages. First, the ore is refined to complete the enrichment of mixed REE carbonate. The first is the concentration of ore to mixed REE Carbonate. The second is the more complex separation stage that converts the mixed REE Carbonate to commercial pure-grade REEs. The facility will address both stages of REE processing. The facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022, and construction will begin this fall.

Craig Taylor, chief executive officer of Defense Metals, which is responsible for advancing the mining of Wicheeda rare earths, said it is vital to use professional REE processing facilities in safe and friendly jurisdictions.

"Outside China, other countries in the world are accelerating the progress of securing local rare earth concentrates and processing facilities. Given that the Wicheeda deposit is located in Canada gives us a strategic advantage as we continue to have discussions with various parties about this deposit."

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