Bold Step in Rare Earth Metals Production: Saskatchewan Advances Industry

Saskatchewan Research Council Produces First Rare Earth Metals on Commercial Scale: In the summer of 2024, Canada’s Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) achieved a major milestone by producing its first rare earth metals commercially, with plans for full operation by early 2025. The facility is set to produce 10 tons per month of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) metal, boasting over 99.5% purity and a conversion rate exceeding 98%.

Early Success Through International Tolling Agreements: This success stems from tolling agreements finalized in July 2024 with international clients, enabling SRC to convert rare earth oxides into metals with minimal initial investment in raw materials.

Future Production Goals and Government Support: SRC aims to ramp up production to 40 tons per month by the end of 2024, eventually reaching 400 tons annually once fully operational. The facility has received substantial support, totaling $101 million in funding from the Saskatchewan and Canadian governments.

International Partnerships for Sustainable Supply: Additionally, SRC is forming international partnerships, including agreements with Australia’s Arafura Rare Earths and Vietnam’s Hung Thinh Group to supply up to 3,000 tons of rare earth carbonate annually starting in 2025. These initiatives are part of SRC’s long-term vision to establish Saskatchewan as a hub for rare earth metals production and position Canada as a significant player in the global rare earths market.