Saskatchewan’s rare earth facility takes another step forward

It is another step forward for Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatoon.

On Thursday, the SRC announced that it has designed and begun building 140 commercial-scale solvent extraction cells. The machines will take mixed rare earth chloride – which includes all 17 rare earth elements – and separate it into individual or grouped rare earth oxides.

“In comparison to other solvent extraction technologies, this will see down times reduced from months to get these tanks operating at equilibrium to only hours, or a few days,” SRC president and CEO Mike Crabtree said.

Only a handful of places in the world have that capability, and Crabtree said the facility in Saskatoon is the first in Canada.

Crabtree said it’s just the another step toward getting the SRC facility and the province noticed on the world stage.

Rare earth elements are highly valuable, and are used in a variety of products including cell phones, electric vehicles, wind turbines and more. Crabtree highlighted electric vehicles in particular.

“The demand for rare earths, which form the engines for these vehicles, is going to go up by a factor of five, and then ultimately 10, so we know the demand for these rare earths is going to increase,” Crabtree said.

And with the growing demand, SRC will be adding positions to its workforce as well. Crabtree said once the facility is fully operational, it will create 50 to 60 full-time jobs.

“In the next 10 to 15 years, you can expect this to be a very significant industry, employing hundreds of people,” he added.

The solvent extraction cells are expected to be complete this fall.