The rare earth extraction plant being built in Saskatoon conducted its first trial recently, which produced high grade concentrate in its first run. Vice President of Corporate Relations and Strategy with Vital Metals Ltd., David Connelly, considers this very positive news.  Vital Metals is Canada’s first rare earths producer, and only the second in North America.  All 17 rare earth metals were found in the concentrate.

Connelly explains that the most important ones are the ones that make up the magnets that power electric vehicles and wind turbines. The plant will now undergo some adjustments and ultimately further trials will be conducted and then production will be ramped up. Vital Metals expects to employ 40 people in its first stage of production.

The extraction facility is adjacent to a rare earth processing plant under construction by the Saskatchewan Research Council.  SRC’s goal is to establish an REE, which is rare earth elements, technology hub