Canada Backs 12-Year R&D into First Integrated Rare Earth Processing Plant
SRC leveraged 12 years of pilot-scale rare earth processing expertise to win Saskatchewan government funding and begin construction over five years ago on North America’s first vertically integrated minerals-to-metals plant. The facility aims to diversify supply beyond China’s 95% market control and meet rapidly rising demand.
1. Project Development and Funding
SRC spent 12 years conducting pilot‐ and laboratory‐scale processing of rare earth elements before proposing a vertically integrated minerals-to-metals facility. The Government of Saskatchewan approved the plan and provided funding based on SRC’s deep expertise, enabling ground to break on construction more than five years ago.
2. Strategic Supply Chain Diversification
China has controlled over 95% of the upstream and midstream rare earth supply chain for the past 10–15 years, setting benchmark pricing and limiting Western access. SRC’s plant is designed to establish an ex-China supply source, counter Beijing’s market dominance and support defense and advanced manufacturing needs as global demand surges.
3. Construction Timeline and Expertise
Construction on the Saskatchewan facility began over five years ago, leveraging SRC’s two decades of combined analysis and processing know-how. The site will catalyze domestic rare earth production, reduce reliance on imports, and encourage further development of critical minerals infrastructure in Canada.