Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[Middleborder]

PM: US DOE under Jennifer M. Granholm prefers to extract REEs from coal fly ash rather than mining it from the ground. Cant say whether this is cheaper than Niocorp's method of extraction. I suspect it colors their choice of recipients for loans and grants.

https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-launches-32-million-program-advance-domestic-supply-chain-critical-minerals

"WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund a $32 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program supporting front-end engineering design (FEED) studies to produce rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals and materials (CMMs) from domestic coal-based resources. ...snip... Converting coal production waste into components of clean energy technology can create good-paying jobs in communities that have historically produced fossil energy fuels and power."


https://www.purdue.edu/research/researchatpurdue/science-for-you-from-coal-ash-to-electronics/

and:

https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/recovering-rees-coal-fly-ash-using-acid-digestion-and-electrowinning-processes

"Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) and Rare Earth Salts (RES) demonstrated that developing an environmentally benign and economically sustainable process for recovering rare earth element (REE) products from domestic coal ash sources is possible. A part of a National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)-funded cooperative agreement, these results mark a significant step forward in developing domestic sources of supply for REEs, which remains a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)."

(**Rare Earth Salts is that coupany located in Beatrice NE, next county over from Elk Creek.)