Canada to launch rare earth elements processing complex to compete with China



09/23/2024 3:06 AM


According to the Financial Times, the SRC Rare Earth Processing Facility is set to start operating in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this week.



James St. John
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) constructed a facility worth C$100 million ($74 million) to process rare earth elements (REE) from Australia, Brazil, and Vietnam before Canadian deposits are utilized.

Mike Crabtree, CEO of the SRC Rare Earth Processing Facility, informed the FT that the facility will generate sufficient metal to manufacture 500,000 electric cars annually.

REE consist of 17 elements which include lanthanum, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanides. They are utilized for making batteries for electric vehicles, wind turbines, as well as defense and aerospace products, among other things.

Crabtree stated that companies in North America will have the opportunity to license the plant's technology and duplicate it.

He added that the facility’s goal is to demonstrate that complete vertical integration in processing can be both cost-effective and strong enough to withstand market manipulation from China.

source: ft.com

 


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