Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online
Trade and Export Minister Jeremy Harrison, left, shakes the hand of the French representative. Saskatchewan Research Council
UPDATED to include reference to eventual Saskatchewan-sourced rare earth elements
SASKATOON – Two critical minerals announcements came out of the Saskatchewan government on April 15, involving opposite sides of the planet. One was in relation to processing rare earth metals from Vietnam, the other involved strategic minerals for France.
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) signed a five-year agreement in principle with Hung Thinh Group (HTG) from Vietnam to import rare earth carbonate to SRC’s Rare Earth Processing Facility to produce rare earth metals. Under the agreement, HTG will supply SRC with up to 3,000 tonnes of rare earth carbonate per year for five years beginning in June 2025.
“Working with the international community to secure this supply of critical minerals for SRC’s Rare Earth Processing Facility marks another step forward in establishing a domestic rare earth element hub in Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison said in a release. “This agreement is a direct outcome of Saskatchewan’s international engagement with Vietnam, supported by our trade and investment office in Ho Chi Minh City. During our 2022 mission to Vietnam, our team and I met directly with HTG to showcase the opportunities for collaboration with Saskatchewan on rare earth processing. This agreement means SRC’s facility will have the resources essential for the production of rare earth metals in Saskatchewan for the next five years.”
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Securing this supply of rare earth carbonate will allow SRC’s facility to process, separate and produce approximately 400 tonnes of rare earth metals per year. These rare earth metals are essential for modern technology including cellphones, electric vehicles, robotics and green technologies.
Hung Thinh Group signs and agreement with SRC. Saskatchewan Research Council photo
“The production of rare earth metals will develop and stimulate the rare earth industry in North America,” SRC president and CEO Mike Crabtree said. “This agreement with HTG ensures SRC will be producing rare earth element products for sale in the international market until the end of this decade.”
This SRC project is North America’s first, fully integrated commercial demonstration Rare Earth Processing Facility, according to SRC. SRC has developed proprietary, state-of-the-art technology and know-how in rare earth mineral processing, solvent extraction and metal smelting.
Pipeline Online asked if Saskatchewan-sourced rare earth elements will be processed at this time. The SRC responded, “While rare earth deposits have been identified in Saskatchewan, currently there are no active rare earth mines operating in the province. Once provincial-based rare earth mines come online, SRC’s Facility will collaborate with those mining companies to process their rare earth material. Until then, SRC will work with organizations such as Hung Thinh Group (HTG) from Vietnam to source materials.”
This deal with Vietnam for 3,000 tonnes per year of rare earth carbonate will put SRC’s Facility at capacity for the year. At capacity, SRC’s Rare Earth Processing Facility will be able to process, separate and produce approximately 400 tonnes per year of rare earth metal.
Since 2020, the Saskatchewan Government has invested $71 million into the facility which is expected to act as a catalyst to stimulate the resource sector in Saskatchewan and across Canada by providing the mid-stream supply chain needed to generate industry investment and growth.
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Saskatchewan and France Sign Letter of Intent on the Development of Supply Chains for Strategic Minerals
Also on April 15, Harrison, who is also Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development, and French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, Francophonie and French Nationals Abroad Franck Riester signed a new Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore, develop and cooperate on new projects related to strategic mineral resources. The LOI was signed the same day at Saskatchewan Research Council.
“We have had a longstanding relationship with France through Orano and our uranium industry for many years,” Harrison said. “Today, I am delighted to expand and build on our relationship with France in strategic minerals sectors. This is especially important given our shared goals of lowering greenhouse gas emissions and making energy and mining more reliable and sustainable than ever before. Throughout our province’s history, our mining and resource sector has remained vital to our economy and labour force. New partnerships like this one strengthen that history and move us forward in our goals to build opportunities and protect communities.”
The LOI will focus on the regions’ shared goals of improving supply chain security and sustainability, and research and development for critical minerals. It also includes intentions to share knowledge and develop projects related to critical mineral innovations.
“This signing is a new step in the partnership between France and Canada to strengthen our cooperation on strategic minerals,” Riester said. “This agreement with the Saskatchewan government is one of the first we have signed with a Canadian province, after the one signed with Quebec last November. That says a lot about the priority we attach to our relationship with Saskatchewan. Strategic minerals are key for the ongoing transition to a low-carbon economy, whether it be building electric vehicles or producing the energy that our societies require, and therefore reinforcing France’ sovereignty. This partnership represents a major milestone in stepping up the bilateral efforts in this direction.”
Saskatchewan is home to 23 critical minerals, including uranium, potash, rare earth elements, helium, lithium, copper and more. As the world transitions to a clean energy economy, global demand for these critical minerals is set to skyrocket by 400 to 600 per cent over the next several decades, the government said in a release. It added, “Saskatchewan is well-positioned to be the stable supplier the world needs. Establishing new partnerships in these industries is in line with Securing the Future, Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth, Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy.”
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