(Kitco News) - Canada's first rare earths producer Vital Metals (ASX: VML) today announced that it has commenced feeding ore into a dense media separation plant as part of commissioning its rare earth extraction facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Vital said it will commission the Saskatoon facility incrementally over coming months with plans to produce a 2.5t rare earth carbonate sample for offtake partner REEtec as the next step of product qualification.
According to a press-release, Vital is targeting delivery of this product to REEtec in October 2022.
The company added that Phase 2 of plant commissioning will then commence with throughput ramp-up and associated contract deliveries to REEtec.
Vital expects to ramp up production volumes at Saskatoon through two stages:
Stage 1 throughput capacity of 1,000t/yr REO (ex-cerium), equivalent to 470t/yr NdPr; Stage 2 capacity of 2,000t/yr REO (ex-cerium), equivalent to 940t/yr NdPr.
The company said it will supply REEtec with 750t/yr NdPr – or 75% of Saskatoon's Stage 2 capacity.
Vital is processing ore from the company's Nechalacho operation in Canada's Northwest Territories, where mining commenced in mid-2021.
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Managing Director Geoff Atkins stated, "This is an exciting step for the company as we continue our transition from rare earth developer to operator. We have been a rare earth miner for more than 12 months and now we can commence production of rare earth carbonate. We are excited to have reached this milestone at Saskatoon despite the challenges surrounding supply chains and logistics across the world.”
Vital Metals is Canada's first rare earths producer following commencement of production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada in June 2021. It holds a portfolio of rare earths, technology metals and gold projects located in Canada, Africa and Germany.
