Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[Middleborder]

P.M. Monocle Additional Information on TechMet

https://www.techmet.ie/technology-metals/

Here is where it discusses the U.S. as a Shareowner:

TechMet’s largest shareholders now include the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC – the US Government’s development finance institution); Lansdowne Partners (one of London’s foremost investment institutions); and Mercuria (the global energy trading company); together with TechMet Chairman and CEO, Brian Menell.
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Information on DFC;

https://www.dfc.gov/

"The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world." (Snip....)

"DFC can provide direct equity investments into companies or projects in the developing world which will have developmental impact or advance U.S. foreign policy. Equity investments can be highly developmental because of their ability to support early and growth-stage companies that would otherwise not be able to take on debt, especially companies in low and lower-middle income countries."


DFC will, of course, not be a source of any funding for Elk Creek Development.

It is a Good example of The U.S.'s Foreign policy Bank undercutting its own nation's domestic mining interests. I suppose it is still possible that the Deparment of Defense strategic minerals program might still be a source.
(Non Governmental is always preferential!)

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In looking at TechMets website they show their target minerals as:

COBALT • LITHIUM • NICKEL • TIN • TUNGSTEN • VANADIUM • RARE EARTH METALS

Their Ventures

"Rainbow Rare Earths is a listed producer of high-grade rare earths concentrate in Burundi and South Africa.
TechMet has made an equity investment and is exploring options with Rainbow to develop downstream processing capacity to turn Rainbow’s high-grade concentrate into high-value rare earth products.

While they might invest in multiple REE projects, to my mind this tends to diminish the possibility that TechMet will be financing Elk Creek.
Probably easier to negotiate the S.A and Burundi and regulations.