Two Canadian Companies Aim to Rival China’s Monopoly of the Rare Earth Metals Market

The plan involves making Saskatoon a key link in the global rare earths supply chain

Jeremy Catholique, a member of the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation and shift supervisor at Vital Metals’ Nechalacho rare earth elements mine in the Northwest Territories, overlooks bags of concentrated ore ready to be shipped to the plant in Saskatoon. Bill Braden/Vital Metals handout photo

SASKATOON—Most people use rare earth elements every day, although they may only have a vague idea of what these metals are.

Rare earth elements are the building blocks of many technologies and are prized for their magnetic and catalytic properties. They “permeate” our lives, according to David Connelly, VP of strategy and corporate affairs with Vital Metals, which owns Canada’s first and only rare earth mine, located in the Northwest Territories.