TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) officially opened its new mineral processing pilot plant in Saskatoon on Friday.

The pilot plant, announced in the fall of 2012, was now fully operational and had been well-received by the mining industry, already taking requests from clients in Saskatchewan and across Canada, the SRC said in a statement.

The new pilot plant, coupled with SRC's existing mineral processing expertise, laboratory and testing facilities, including a new quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy, known as the Qemscan service, would allow mining companies to access a full range of mineral processing services, making it more efficient, convenient and economical to do business.

"The mining industry continues to be a pillar of the Western Canadian economy. Our investment in SRC's pilot plant facility will help improve productivity and lead to the creation of more jobs and opportunities for growth,” Saskatoon Member of Parliament Brad Trost said.

The pilot plant would specifically support developing and demonstrating new and improved methods for processing minerals such as potash, uranium, gold, base metals, coal, oil sands and oil shale, along with being one of the few centres in Canada with an emphasis on rare-earth minerals.

Through enabling the pilot-scale demonstration of new technologies, it would be able to assist companies increase mining yields and decrease associated costs.

"This pilot plant showcases not only the latest evolution SRC has made in support of the mining industry, but also how they continue to be a leader in this very important sector," the Economy Minister and Minister responsible for SRC Bill Boyd said.

"The fact that this facility is gaining worldwide attention goes to show that Saskatchewan's talents are recognised around the globe and we are a hub for providing some of the very best services in the world."

The pilot plant adjoins SRC's diamond facilities and pipe flow technology centre.

Operating at a throughput capacity of about two metric tonnes a day, the plant could process 400 t/y to 500 t/y for multiple clients and projects.

"The response we have received to this pilot plant has been encouraging and we are pleased to be able to offer these much-needed services to the mining industry not only here in Saskatchewan but in Canada and internationally. The addition of this pilot plant is just another example of the many ways SRC is contributing to the continued economic growth of the Saskatchewan economy,” SRC president and CEO Dr Laurier Schramm said.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement funded $1.27-million of the project, with the SRC providing $930 000 for the project.