The Saskatchewan Research Council has announced the construction of a new mineral processing pilot plant in Saskatoon.
The $2.2-million facility is being developed with funding from the provincial and federal governments.
SRC vice-president of mining and minerals Craig Murray says the plant will support companies involved in processing potash, uranium, gold and diamonds.
Murray says the services offered should be useful in northern Saskatchewan:
“I think it’s like anything else. The world is always moving forward and improving. So, if you think about that there are a number of mills in the north — Rabbit Lake, McClean Lake — they’re doing a great job, but there’s always new technologies coming, and they’re always looking to try and test and develop new things.”
He says research and development can also be done for companies involved in coal, oil sands and rare minerals.
The goal is to increase mining yields and decrease costs.