Canada to begin processing rare mineral used to power electric vehicles
Saskatchewan is getting $16 million from the federal government to process a rare mineral.
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is set to process 2,000 tonnes of bastnaesite — a mineral used to create magnets for the motors for electric vehicles.
Two bags of the bastnaesite, small red rocks, were on display at the SRC Saskatoon office where the government made the funding announcement.
"These rocks, these ores are going to be critical to the energy transformation and will make Canada an energy powerhouse," said Mike Crabtree, SRC president and CEO.
Crabtree held up a metal block to show what the minerals beside him will get turned into.
"This little ingot is sufficient to produce the magnets for five electric vehicles," Crabtree told the crowd.
Once all the SRC's bastnaesite is processed, it could power more than 62,000 vehicles.
"Lithium is the gas tank of an electric vehicle. Rare earths make the engine. No engine, no electric vehicle," Crabtree said.
The SRC is already processing the mineral monazite, and aims to process bastnaesite in the next two years.
"No other facility outside of China is capable of doing that," Crabtree said.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's minister of energy and natural resources, said it's important the processing gets done at home.
"Critical minerals are the natural gas of the future, in the sense that they are going to be integral to a whole range of products that we need. We cannot be fully dependent on China for that," Wilkinson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2 Canadians killed in Lebanon, Global Affairs Canada confirms amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Two Canadians are among those killed in southern Lebanon, Global Affairs Canada confirmed late Tuesday. While GAC has not confirmed their names due to privacy, family members tell CTV News the two people killed are Hussein and Daad Tabaja.
EXCLUSIVE Image released of mysterious object shot down over Yukon in 2023
An image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023 has been obtained by CTVNews.ca.
Debate gets testy as MPs consider confidence motion in PM Trudeau
MPs debated the first non-confidence motion of the fall House of Commons sitting today, seeing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre push once again for a snap election. But with votes secured to keep them afloat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals were quick to turn the discussion into a referendum on the Conservative alternative.
B.C. councillor blames 'leftist extremists' after blackface photo surfaces online
A city councillor in British Columbia says an online mob of "extremists" and "politically motivated hackers" is responsible for uncovering and publicizing a photo of him wearing a blackface costume to a Halloween party in 2007.
Feds have 'no intention' of pausing next carbon tax increase, Guilbeault says
The federal government has 'no intention' of pausing the next planned increase to the carbon price, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault confirms.
'It shows how out of touch the Premier is': Reaction to Doug Ford's encampment comments
After Ontario Premier Doug Ford made controversial comments about solutions to get people out of homeless encampments, advocates and members of the opposition spoke up on Tuesday.
Ont. driver rescues abandoned puppies found in ditch
Four puppies were found near County Road 21 in Essa Township after a passerby spotted one when it ran out of the ditch and onto the road.
Couple in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., awarded more than $500K for enduring life with hellish neighbour
We've all had neighbours we didn't like, but two people from Sault Ste. Marie have been awarded more than half a million dollars for the 'extreme' behaviour of the people who lived next to them.
Missouri executes Marcellus Williams for 1998 killing of a woman despite her family's calls to spare his life
A Missouri man convicted of breaking into a woman’s home and repeatedly stabbing her was executed Tuesday over the objections of the victim’s family and the prosecutor, who wanted the death sentence commuted to life in prison.