Released on March 14, 2024
Saskatchewan is a mining powerhouse, providing potash for agriculture, uranium for clean fuel, helium for medical and industrial use, and now rare earth elements (REE), which are used in electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, everyday electronics, and industrial uses.
Thanks to leaders like the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), the province is going beyond mining and exploration, to processing and commercializing value-added products using REEs at the Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatoon; the first of its kind in Canada.
In Saskatoon today, Dan Vandal, Minister Responsible for PrairiesCan, announced funding of $6 million to support the SRC at their Rare Earth Processing Facility. This investment will help establish and commercialize a process to separate unrecovered rare earth oxides (REO) from radioactive monazite tailings that would have otherwise been disposed of, resulting in additional rare earths sufficient to manufacture up to 65,000 EVs per year. The funding also helps to develop an automated metal smelting process to produce commercial grade REE metals. The investment is being made through PrairiesCan to support economic development and diversification and help build a stronger Prairies economy.
Today's funding builds on earlier support from PrairiesCan of $2.5 million in interest-free repayable funding for SRC to purchase equipment needed to establish the Rare Earth Processing Facility and a recent investment of almost $5 million from Natural Resources Canada through the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration program.
The Government of Canada, through the Critical Minerals Strategy, is making crucial investments in critical minerals, and the foundation of a greener and more sustainable economy for the future. These investments are examples of the greater collaboration called for in the new Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy. The Framework was launched in December 2023 as a long-term commitment to better coordination between federal departments, driving strategic investments across the Prairies, and greater collaboration with other levels of government and Prairie partners. It aims to support economic growth across the Prairies that leaves no one behind and creates good-paying jobs.
"Our government is seizing opportunities to invest in a strong, sustainable future for all Canadians, while supporting our regional strengths like mining, exploration, and mineral processing," Vandal said. "Saskatchewan's leadership in this sector will help establish a domestic rare earth supply chain that adds value to our economy and creates good jobs for Canadians."
"With this investment from PrairiesCan, along with the initial $71 million investment from the Government of Saskatchewan, SRC continues to break new ground in the rare earth space, helping establish a rare earth hub in Saskatchewan," Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Research Council Jeremy Harrison said. "These latest innovations will ensure Saskatchewan is producing the highest quality REE metals to power global technology."
"What is happening at SRC right now is very exciting," Mayor of Saskatoon Charlie Clark said. "This work is crucial to help meet global demand for the magnets and rare earth minerals that will be needed to power the future. These investments by both the Federal and Provincial Government are crucial for accelerating that work. Having this processing facility in Saskatoon creates a tremendous opportunity to develop an economic cluster here as we continue to diversify our economy and create good jobs for the future."
"This funding will allow SRC to optimize two important processes in the rare earth supply chain, producing more REE and at the same time doing it quicker, safer and with less demand on manual labour.," Saskatchewan Research Council President and CEO Mike Crabtree said.
Quick facts:
- The Government of Canada has identified 31 critical minerals, and 23 of those can be found in Saskatchewan.
- Canada has some of the largest known reserves and resources of REO, estimated at over 14 million tonnes in 2021.
- Mineral exploration expenditures in Saskatchewan hit a 10-year high in 2023, with uranium exploration leading the way, demonstrating the region's high global attractiveness for investment (Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources Exploration and Development Highlights Report, 2023).
Associated links
- Canada to Boost Supply of Critical Minerals and Strengthen Value Chains With Investment in the Saskatchewan Research Council - Canada.ca.
- Minister Vandal announces investment in processing of rare earth elements in Saskatchewan - Canada.ca.
- Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy.
- Critical Minerals Strategy.
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For more information, contact:
Carson Debert
Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister Responsible for PrairiesCan and CanNorth
Email: carson.debert@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Craig Henry
Prairies Economic Development Canada
Email: craig.henry@prairiescan.gc.ca
Francois Biber
Saskatchewan Research Council
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-385-4187
Email: francois.biber@src.sk.ca