Rare Earth Summit showcases Saskatchewan as global hub for critical minerals

A summit being held in Saskatoon will bring together public and private sector stakeholders to showcase how several rare earth element projects are attracting international attention.

The Rare Earth Summit will see industry leaders from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Critical Minerals Council meeting in Saskatoon to discuss expanding the supply chains for rare earth minerals.

These minerals, the provincial government said in a release, are used in applications ranging from wind turbines and electric vehicles to defence, communications and medical technology.

At the summit, Vital Metals Ltd. will unveil the first phase of its Rare Earth Extraction Facility, operating alongside the Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) $55-million rare earth processing facility — the first of its kind in North America.

Staff at the SRC facility recently showed off the first ingots of magnet metals — neodymium and praseodymium — ever produced at scale in Canada.

“The world is watching us,” David Connelly, vice-president of strategy and corporate affairs for Vital Metals Ltd., said in a statement. “We’re intensely proud to be here in Saskatoon, along with SRC and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, to share our story with you.”

Perrin Beatty, the CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said Canada is quickly becoming a global leader in rare earth materials.

“Showcasing Saskatchewan as the continental hub for value-added rare-earth products sends a message — that Canada can provide global markets with the essential building blocks for a low-carbon future,” Beatty said in a statement.

“Canada has the potential to be a world leader in supplying the critical minerals to market.”

The Vital and SRC projects will add more than 100 jobs to Saskatchewan’s workforce, the provincial government noted, and more will likely be coming as the projects continue to grow.