Mining News
Vital says its Saskatoon rare earth extraction plant on track for first feed in 2021
(Kitco News) - Vital Metals announced Tuesday that its rare earth extraction facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, is on track for first feed from the Nechalacho mine into the plant in December 2021, with first product expected by June 2022.
According to the company’s statement, all major processing equipment items procured within budget with some items oversized to provide additional production capacity.
Plant will have start up throughput capacity of 1,000t/yr excluding cerium (equivalent to 470t/yr of NdPr), the company added.
Importantly, Vital said it has expanded Stage 2 capacity to 2,000t/yr ex. cerium (940t/yr NdPr) – representing 50% larger plant throughput capacity than initially planned.
Managing Director Geoff Atkins said commissioning of the plant would occur incrementally over the first half of CY2022 and first product out is scheduled to occur end of H1 CY22.
Vital Metals is an explorer and developer focusing on rare earths, technology metals and gold projects. The company's projects are located across a range of jurisdictions in Canada, Africa and Germany. Vital Metals is Canada's first rare earths producer.
