Research & Development

The objective of the REE R&D program is to advance the knowledge of REE and technology for their recovery from Canadian REE resources. Research is focused on producing optimized processing flowsheets for the production of REE, from the ore to individual rare earth oxides, and reducing the operating and capital expenditures of Canadian projects, enabling Canadian REE products to be cost competitive. The R&D work also provides methods to reduce and options to manage the toxicity effects of radioactive elements, such as uranium and thorium, and other chemicals used in the processing of REE, to accelerate and inform the environmental assessment of Canadian projects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Ultimately, the program delivers the technological innovation needed to ensure the emerging Canadian REE industry is equipped to contribute to the global production of rare earth elements in an economical and responsible manner.

The objective of the Chromite R&D program is to produce optimized flowsheets that specify developmental steps for the processing of chromite, as well as reduce the operating and capital expenditures of Canadian projects to produce ferrochrome at a competitive cost in Canada. The work will provide options on how to reduce and manage toxicity effects of chromium (VI) and other potential issues to accelerate and inform the environmental assessments of Canadian projects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). Ultimately, the program will deliver the technological innovation needed to ensure the emerging Canadian chromite industry is equipped to contribute to the global production of ferrochrome in an economical and responsible manner.