Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[chico237]

Thanks for sharing the article, Papa! Nice read with coffee this morning. I agree that Niocorp could have added the REE's (@2019 F.S.) earlier on. As you/Mark stated (It might not have made sense to do so until it did...Pricing/Capex/Need for stable U.S. supplies..etc..)
Fast forward to 2022/23
a) Niocorp did add (an updated June 2022 F.S. with a market compliant Ni-43-101 resource estimate for REE lbs. in the Ground & is now considered the second largest REE deposit in the U.S. (NOTE: Niocorp is the Largest Niobium Reserve North America!)
b) Has undertaken FINAL Hydro-met improvements (as laid out in the 2019 F.S.) & In addition is Proving out a NEW SIMPLIFIED CARBONATION PROCESS to not only Separate REE's, but improve Recovery rates of both Niobium & Titanium & enhance Oxide potentials! Upon completion of FINAL PROVEN PROCESS a new 2023 F.S. whil be submitted with all the Economics NPV, CAPEX improvements, ESG & potential GHG benefits detailed.
(Grunt & I have posted are REE expectations & $600 Million is a possibility imho. Granted: ***I do admit it is taking a darn long time to announce results now!!! Yep C'mon... team Niocorp! Perhaps they are applying for PATENTS before disclosure??? as Mark, Jim mentioned??)
c) GXII SPAC DEAL was announced which would "IF" approved secure @$400million in Equity. Add in $145Million German loan Guarantee. That leaves the "Debt" portion via (A,B,C,D.... all methods are on the table). The only method one can track easily is the U.S. govt. & recent legislation & DoE/LPO have always looked interesting to me.
Papa: Please see shared DD:
Sharing Jims's "New" responses to my follow up questions 11/15/2022:
1) - Has Niocorp recently applied for a DoE/LPO loan for "debt"..?

We are indeed in discussions with several U.S. federal agencies about potential financial assistance to the Project, but all have very strict rules about disclosure of those discussions and processes. I’m sorry but I cannot say anything more about this at present.

(Over 14 NEW applications were noted since August 2022 on the DoE/LPO site. Note: prior to new legislation passing ~~~Applications had not increased in over a years time!~~~" I cannot rule out a U.S. Debt/loan guarantee from the equation yet! It appears the team is in talks with several Federal agencies. "I would guess off-takes, debt/loan & stuff like that would not be disclosed until it can be...??"- there are plenty of "Dotz"!..)

2) - Could any additional CO2 capture methods still be possible by ex-situ, direct mineralization, or other methods now being undertaken via the New Process? (You did hint earlier that there "May" be some (byproducts), but more work is needed & yet T.B.D.)

The reagent recycling tied to the Calcium and Magnesium removal, which we recently announced as part of our demonstration plant operations, is effectively A Carbon Sink and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the eventual operation.

What are Carbon Sinks: A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
(Very Interesting "DOTS"...especially if you listened to the recent video where Jim @3:40 minute mark specifically mentions "Sequestering CO2" as part of the new process!) **NOTE: Our team has stated they want to get the Big Three & REE's done first. The new byproducts & goodies IF CO2 friendly or saleable products come later!...

3) - Who owns the patent/rights to this New Process being implemented? Or can it be licensed moving forward?

We hold the rights to any intellectual property developed and related to the Elk Creek process by virtue of our contractual relationships with L3 and other entities involved in the work. While our focus remains on using proven commercial technologies in the public domain, we will act to protect the parts of our process that may be novel.

(Niocorp/L3 have been utilizing existing methods but there appears to be some proprietary sequencing or methods being employed which may need to be patented moving forward.)

Form your own opinions & conclusions on above as always.
Papa: I appreciate your opinion as stated & I myself have been frustrated several times over the years. We did lose a year to covid & 2025 was always my target for production. The process is moving slower than I thought but "I do NOW see a path forward!" (Pending our Team can Execute & Secure a Finance @$1.1B to sign EPC contractors) 2023 to 2026 production Target is within reach IMHO. (I THINK OUR TEAM CAN!!!) Each investor must make their own decisions...

Keeping my Front Row Seats with many here...
Chico