AI
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 2:38:35 PM
https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/lpo-year-review-2022
Project Pipeline Updates
As of the end of 2022, we are processing 125 applications asking for cumulatively $119.0B of loans and are averaging 1.4 new applications per week. To highlight this new generation of projects, LPO re-launched its popular poster series, featuring hydrogen, critical materials, and advanced fossil. We also launched the VPPieces blog series to educate consumers and other stakeholders about the role virtual power plants (VPPs) can play in the clean energy transition.
New Legislation
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), together with the earlier Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), altered the scope and scale of the new American industrial strategy. The IRA expanded the authority in our existing programs, 1703, ATVM, and Tribal Energy Finance, by $100B. IRA also created the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Financing Program (1706) which can support up to $250B in loan authority. The CO2 Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (CIFIA)—authorized by the BIL, appropriates $2.1B to support approximately $25B in flexible, low-interest loans. This new legislation will create jobs and wealth, address environmental justice and equity priorities and strengthen our energy security and supply chains.
BACK IN JULY 2022 **NIOCORP USEA presentation by - Jim Sims ~ July 2022~
UNITED STATES ENERGY ASSOC.
~A MUST LISTEN ~
https://usea.org/event/opportunity-facilitate-resilient-domestic-critical-material-supply-chains-%E2%80%93-discussions-0
An Opportunity to Facilitate Resilient Domestic Critical Material Supply Chains – Discussions on the Infrastructure, Investments and Jobs Act, Sections 41003c and 41003d in Golden, CO
(SKIP TO @HR 2:23 minute mark Jim Sims Niocorp Presentation)
https://youtu.be/kT8zYdQfytQ
On January 12th, 2023 ~DOE loans Ioneer $700 million (Thats 700MILLION$$$ for CRITICAL MINERALS Lithium/Boron!~)
Lithium company Ioneer scores $700 million conditional loan from Energy Department for Nevada plant
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/13/lithium-company-ioneer-gets-700-million-conditional-energy-dept-loan.html
Lithium company Ioneer said Friday that it’s secured a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $700 million from the Department of Energy as the U.S. seeks to develop new supply chains for materials that are critical to the energy transition. If approved, the loan, made under the DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, will be for Ioneer’s on-site lithium processing facility.
HOW APPLICATION PROCESS WORKS
https://www.energy.gov/lpo/application-process
REMEMBER NIOCORP DID ANNOUNCE:
New Federal Legislation Could Deliver Powerful New Benefits to NioCorp for its Critical Minerals
https://www.niocorp.com/new-federal-legislation-could-deliver-powerful-new-benefits-to-niocorp-for-its-critical-minerals/
UNDER ~Other Provisions That Could Benefit NioCorp~
Other provisions of the law are aimed at encouraging greater production of critical minerals in the U.S.:
$40 billion commitment authority for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program (Title XVII), on top of DOE’s existing commitment authority of approximately $24 billion. The Innovative Technologies Loan Guarantee Program authorizes loan guarantees for projects that (1) “avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester” air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases; and (2) employ “new or significantly improved technologies” as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued.
(***GIVEN: Niocorp has stated that Private methods have been the PRIMARY Focus for Financing. Niocorp also stated that all methods (A,B,C,D...) are on the table. You have to ask yourself.... Could a DoE/LPO loan for "Debt" be on the table??)
HUGE 2023 National Defense Act Calls out NIOBIUM & TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & the need to establish a U.S. Industrial Base for the Supply & Processing of ALL!
https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf
SCANDIUM PAGE # 246
Briefing on the Establishment of Domestic Scandium Processing Facilities in the United States
The committee believes the United States industrial base for the supply and processing of the critical mineral scandium has significant vulnerabilities. The committee also believes that the United States should seek to eliminate dependence on Chinese and Russian sources of scandium, with support from allies and partners. Accordingly, public and private sectors should cooperate closely to establish scandium processing facilities in the United States. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than May 1, 2023, on public and private sector activities, working with allied nations, to establish scandium processing facilities in the United States, especially facilities based on more efficient, cleaner, and less energy intensive technologies. This briefing will also include how these processing facilities will help the United States reduce dependence on and compete more effectively with China and Russia.
(***You have to ask yourself...Would Niocorps Elk Creek Mine, Separation & Processing Facilities~ CHECK THAT BOX?~)
Department of Defense on NIOBIUM PAGE #250
Control of Niobium by the Chinese Communist Party
The committee is concerned by recent investments in global niobium production made by firms under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”). Niobium is a critical mineral needed for the production of superalloys in jet and rocket engines, critical components in defense systems and hypersonic vehicles, and other emerging technologies. CCP control of niobium and a lack of a domestic capability within the United States present a national security risk similar to risks in the rare earth mineral markets.
Therefore, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by December 31, 2022, on current global sources of supply of niobium along with a cost-benefit analysis of establishing a domestic supply of high purity niobium oxides.
The briefing shall:
(1) differentiate between ferroniobium and high-purity niobium (the critical
niobium oxide precursor);
(2) address the possibility of using underutilized byproduct niobium
feedstocks from coproduced materials in the United States to strengthen the
domestic industrial base for other key refractory materials such as tantalum; and
(3) include a list of defense programs that are significant users of niobium
or where niobium is a critical component.
(***You have to ask yourself...Would Niocorps Elk Creek Mine, Separation & Processing Facilities~ CHECK THAT BOX?~)
TITANIUM PAGE #250 & #253
Department of Defense Access to Titanium
Establishment of Efficient Titanium Processing Facilities in the United States
The committee is concerned that the United States industrial base for the supply and processing of the critical mineral titanium has significant vulnerabilities, including dependence on strategic competitors for the supply and processing of titanium. The committee believes that the United States should seek to eliminate dependence when it comes to the supply and processing of titanium, with support from allies and partners. Furthermore, the committee believes the public and private sectors should cooperate closely to establish titanium processing facilities in the United States or in other trusted partner countries. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal departments, to submit to the House Committee on Armed Services an unclassified briefing not later than December 31, 2022, that includes:
(1) a description of the public and private sector activities to cooperate and
establish efficient titanium processing facilities in the United States or in trusted
partner countries; and
(2) an analysis of how such facilities will help the United States reduce
dependence on strategic competitors.
(***You have to ask yourself...Would Niocorps Elk Creek Mine, Separation & Processing Facilities~ CHECK THAT BOX?~)
REE'S???(Are also mentioned in the NDAA, however Niocorp has not YET officially stated they can produce them as Byproducts (T.B.D. pending ongoing Demo Plant operations in Quebec alongside L3. Possibly weeks away...from news!)
*************ON 1/2/2023 JIM********************************
Jim: Can you offer comment on how the recent NDA 2023 legislation Might benefit Niocorp & the Critical Materials it will produce in the future?
There are a number of potential sources of U.S. federal funding that could be applicable to NioCorp, AND WE ARE ENGAGED IN PURSUING ASSISTANCE THROUGH MULTIPLE PROGAMS & AGENCIES. We do not comment on the details of these efforts unless and until a public announcement is allowed and/or required.
Has Niocorp recently applied for a DoE/LPO loan for "debt"..? & continuing engagements & discussions with Federal Agencies or other entities into 2023?
We are unable to comment on this, per agency rules
NIOCORPS ELK CREEK MINE IS THE LARGEST PROVEN NIOBIUM PROJECT IN THE UNITIED STATES. NIOCORP WILL ALSO PRODUCE TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & (SOON MAY ADD VIABLE RARE EARTH MINERALS UPON COMPLETION OF DEMONSTRATION PLANT OPERATIONS NOW ONGOING!)
(Check the link below & see for Yourself!)
https://www.niocorp.com/
Form your own opinions & conclusions above:
IMHO: Those are some very compelling & interesting DOTS! Waiting for Material News as it becomes available on Demo-Plant Results, GXII Results, 2023 F.S., NASDAQ listing, Plus OFF-Take agreements & Contracts to lock in future production of all the NEW goodies once the DEMO-run is validated. I cannot rule out the possibilities I see above....
Waiting for material news as it becomes available on several fronts!
Front Row Seats!
Chico
