Canada’s Sole Rare Earths Miner Shuts Down Saskatoon Facility
Vital Metals, the exclusive rare earths producer in Canada, has plunged its Canadian subsidiary into bankruptcy following an extensive assessment of its $55-million processing facility in Saskatoon.
In a recent news release, the Australian junior firm announced the appointment of the MNP Saskatoon accounting firm as the bankruptcy trustee for Vital Metals Canada. The primary objective of this move is to oversee the sale of assets and the distribution of proceeds among creditors. As of its last trade in April at A1.1¢ per share, Vital Metals boasted a market capitalization of A$43.8 million ($38.2 million).
Despite the initial enthusiasm, federal funding support, and even a visit from the Prime Minister, the firm opted to shut down its Saskatoon processing plant. Crookes conveyed this decision, highlighting the escalation in the plant’s cost from $20 million to $60 million earlier this year. Despite attempting to market an intermediate rare earth product, Vital Metals was unable to secure commercially satisfactory sales.
The decision to declare bankruptcy, stemming from a review initiated in April, aligns with Vital’s broader strategy to optimize the development of the Tardiff deposit, a key component of its Nechalacho rare earths project located in the Northwest Territories. In a press release issued in July, the company stated that the review had reached advanced stages.
Fortunately, Vital’s other Canadian subsidiary, Cheetah Resources, based in Yellowknife and owning the Nechalacho properties, remains unaffected by the bankruptcy proceedings.
Richard Crookes, the interim chairman of Vital Metals, expressed his disappointment regarding the Saskatoon processing facility’s situation.
“We’ve demonstrated that the Saskatoon facility doesn’t make economic sense for us to operate, so we’ve decided to terminate that facility,” said Richard Crookes, the company’s interim chairman, in a video statement.
He emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to create substantial value for its shareholders through the advancement of the Tardiff project. Crookes further noted that Vital had made sincere efforts to collaborate with all stakeholders to explore alternative avenues for the Saskatoon processing business.
Importantly, the shutdown of the Saskatoon plant has no bearing on operations at the Nechalacho site, as Vital Metals pivots its focus towards the development of the Tardiff deposit.
In a noteworthy development, Vital Metals has terminated its agreement with REEtec, a Norwegian firm that was slated to purchase Nechalacho products. According to Vital, due to external conditions, adhering to the current agreement would inflict unfair hardship.
Discrepancies arise as REEtec contests Vital’s assertion of unfair hardship and the validity of the Notice of Termination. This dispute may potentially lead to an arbitration process between the two companies.
Information for this briefing was found via Canada Mining Journal, CBC, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
