SRC Rare Earth Processing Facility Construction Update
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The Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) Rare Earth Processing Facility construction continues as its team achieved a significant new milestone for phase one of the project with the commencement of excavation work for the Monazite Processing Unit (MPU) building floor in December 2022.
MPU equipment foundations and concrete slabs are scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2023 and the fast-track approach will see installation of major equipment beginning in parallel with concrete work in early 2023. Construction of the MPU building extension continues and will be completed in early 2023.
The procurement team continues to seek monazite supply globally and is progressing towards meeting requirements for the first year of operation.
Engineering design and major equipment procurements have both started for phase two of the project, the Separation Unit (SU) and Metal Smelting Unit (MSU). Facility requirements and layout have been developed. In addition, SRC took possession of the SU fabrication shop facility in December 2022 and has various setup and improvements underway in preparation to begin fabricating the solvent extraction cells in early 2023. |
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Let's Connect at PDAC 23
SRC’s Rare Earth Element (REE) team, led by Vice-President Dr. Muhammad Imran, is attending the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention from March 5-8, 2023, in Toronto, Canada.
We would like to extend an invitation to meet with you in person at this event, either at our booth (#500) or by setting up a private meeting.
To pre-book a meeting, please email Chalcey Scopick, Executive Coordinator, REE Division, at chalcey.scopick@src.sk.ca.
We look forward to connecting! |
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SRC Joins REIA Board of Directors
Dr. Muhammad Imran, Vice-President of SRC’s REE Division, has joined the Rare Earth Industry Association’s (REIA) Board of Directors. REIA is an international non-profit organization representing the global REE industry. It was founded in June 2019, under the auspices of EIT Raw Materials Internationalization project GloREIA. The network continues to grow today.
REIA has active members worldwide representing all major countries. With such a global context, REIA is well placed to contribute to a better understanding of the REE value chain.
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SRC Proudly Participates in the Canadian Mirror Committee to ISO/TC 298 Rare Earth
SRC is proud to participate in the Canadian Mirror Committee to ISO/TC (Technical Committee) 298 Rare Earth. The Canadian Mirror Committee promotes Canada’s interests with respect to the development and adoption of standards within the REE sector nationally and internationally at the ISO level.
ISO/TC 298 is divided into five working groups (WG) and SRC experts are lending their leadership and knowledge to two of those.
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- Lucinda Wood (pictured right), Business Development Director at SRC, will be the new chair of the committee to replace Ian London as he retires.
- Robert Millar, Business Unit Manager for SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories, continues to provide valuable expertise to WG4: Testing and Analysis.
- David Sanscartier, Senior Engineer on SRC’s Environmental Remediation team, has been asked to lead WG5: Sustainability.
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Metal Smelting & REEs
Metal smelting is one of the key parts of the REE supply chain currently being developed by SRC. While the process of metal smelting is not a new concept or practice, its use for REEs (especially in North America) is fairly recent.
Read more here.
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In the News
In an article by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, SRC gave a first glimpse inside its Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatoon, which will compete directly in a market China has cornered for decades.
Read the full article.
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Meet the Team
Hamid Salmasi
As an Engineering Manager with SRC’s REE Division, Hamid plans, coordinates and manages the activities of a multi-discipline engineering team that is designing SRC’s fully integrated, three-stage Rare Earth Processing Facility, the first-of-its-kind in North America.
In addition to daily management tasks, Hamid has been working as the technical lead of SRC’s REE engineering team to ensure project requirements are met in a timely and professional manner, while complying with environmental, health and safety regulations and standards.
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Prior to joining SRC in June of 2021, Hamid worked for about ten years as an engineering consultant on several mining projects, particularly for potash and uranium mines in Canada, Russia and Europe.
Hamid received his PhD degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 and has published over ten technical articles in refereed journals and proceedings. He is registered as a Professional Engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and holds Permission to Consult in Mechanical and HVAC for Mining and Buildings.
Outside the office, Hamid enjoys travelling with his family, spending time with friends, kayaking, running and going to the gym.
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Interested in Connecting with SRC?
Due to the overwhelming interest in this Facility, SRC may not be able to address all inquiries at this time. Please visit our website and view our FAQ. All REE business-related inquiries can be directed to info@src.sk.ca.
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