Sasketchewan will receive a rare earth processing facility

Canada will have a rare earths processing facility operational by the end of 2022 as Saskatchewan has allocated C $ 31 million (approximately $ 24 million) to build the facility, which will provide the domestic supply of essential components for military weapons, Electric vehicles and smartphones should be improved. The process of converting rare earth ore (REE) into individual products takes place in two main stages. The first is the concentration of the ore into mixed REE carbonate. The second is the more complex separation stage in which the mixed REE carbonate is converted into commercial, pure REE ore. The facility, owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), will address both stages of waste electrical and electronic equipment processing. The province said it will be the first of its kind in Canada, adding that it is expected to be an industrial model for the rare earths future commercial expansion. "The new rare earth processing facility in Saskatchewan will be a catalyst to stimulate the resource sector in the province and across Canada, providing the early-stage supply chain necessary to generate cash flow, investment and industrial growth for the sector," Prime Minister Scott Moe said in the statement. Establishing an independent indigenous supply chain for rare earths and critical minerals has become a priority for Canada, and the United States in particular. Both currently rely on China, which accounts for 70% of global production. The Asian giant also controls more than 60% of the world’s $ 14 billion market for materials used in magnets and motors for phones, wind turbines, electric vehicles and military equipment. The 69,000 square foot facility will be located in northern Saskatoon and employ about two dozen people. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022; construction will start in autumn this year.