Thanks again for organising this event Walter! Nice meeting you as 'The Godfather' and I have a very good feeling. It was well worth the drive from Mechelen back to Alkmaar. Nice to meet Wagner and Avockil and sharing our thoughts after the presentation as well.
Below find my impression of the first 20 minutes or so, will listen and share second part later today. In total the presentation and Q&A was about 50 minutes including some interesting remarks related to IBC.
-Mark started in stating that we won't hear anything related to financing
-Taking out trees at site was ordered by Niocorp as time slot was there for not disturbing birds
-L3 process operation has been delayed by supply chain issues, backlog/delay at producer and energy shortage, but solved by putting generators in place. I understood that Phase 1 is more or less ready now. Not a single indication that Phase 1 was not according expectations.
-ESG: Niocorp implemented the Equator principle system, the system used/demanded by European commercial banks!
-National content: Nb, SC production is zero in US, but also in Europe
-RER oxides: Zero production in US, concentrate is being shipped to produce Oxide in China
-in current Feasibility Study tax credit of 10% of OPEX is not calculated in. Mark estimates the credit for Niocorp in the range between 30 and 40 million USD each year
-Newly signed US bill: EV world will require national production in order to take advantage of tax credits by public. This will provide Niocorp tailwind.
-Nicorp will save 5,7tons of CO2 of every 1t of CO2 they will put into the air. Mark is very proud of this calculated (by Scott) saving and this fact raised high awareness in the financial industry
-Mark is focussing on Scandium market himself. This given the associated risk in the project as Scandium is biog but 'unknown'. Airline industry might take too long, so is currently mainly looking into EV market besides airline industry. Explained well what Scandium alloy could do for EV industry. Lighter (less fuel, higher tire life), better (watertight, better welding), better structural stability, stronger, easier/cheaper production/welding and all at lower cost than the current 100% aluminium battery tray. Several discussions (tension in the market!) with automotive companies ongoing! So one EV application could take up the whole production of Scandium.
I found the Scandium the most exciting part of the presentation, very convincing and Mark smiling. Niobium was already hot, but Scandium seems getting hot as well.
AI
