Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[scooter83]

Thanks Chico. The Japanese learned the hard way via China embargo on rare earths in 2010.
I believe they are hunting Dy and Tb in Elk Creek!

Mark has noted in this press release China especially controls Dy and Tb:
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorps-rare-earth-demonstration-plant-showing-strong-rare-earth-recovery-results-in-line-with-expectations/
"NioCorp is currently focused on demonstrating its ability to recover three high-purity rare earth products: (1) neodymium-praseodymium oxide, which is the principal component of neodymium-iron-boron (“NdFeB“) permanent rare earth magnets; (2) dysprosium oxide, and; (3) terbium oxide. Both Dy and Tb oxide are critical to the type of powerful NdFeB magnets used in the traction motors of electric vehicles. However, very little of these high-purity separated rare earth products are made outside of Asia."

As you point out:
https://www.mining.com/web/lynas-gets-134-million-funding-from-japan-to-boost-output/
Japan invested $134 million in Lynas this year primarily -
"the deal is important as Lynas will also supply up to 65% of the dysprosium-terbium (DyTb)"

However Lynas has very little Dy and Tb
https://dy6metals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ChinaSubsidiesStructuralAdvantages-ReleasedMay2.pdf#page=22
"Assuming the Lynas facility is successful in the separation of its Sm, Eu, Gd and tiny
amounts of Tb and Dy, it can be assumed that Lynas’s mostly Japanese investor and purchasers will not
allow GM to take all the Tb and Dy (a single GM EV model could require more than 100% of the
projected TbDy production)"

Japan strikes a deal this year with MP Materials for rare earths
https://mpmaterials.com/articles/mp-materials-and-sumitomo-corporation-strengthen-rare-earth-supply-in-japan/
MP Materials and Sumitomo Corporation Strengthen Rare Earth Supply in Japan

However MP Materials only has miniscule amount of the heavy rare earths Dy and Tb needed for the magnets, maybe 500,000 EV per year.
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/Neodymium%20Magnets%20Supply%20Chain%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf
"MP materials reported producing 38,500 tonnes/yearin 2020, [10] enough to produce about 13%
of current world Nd+Pr, but just 0.6% of the world’s Dy"

Still hunting:
Japan signs deal with Namibia to explore for rare earth minerals
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/japan-signs-deal-with-namibia-explore-rare-earth-minerals-2023-08-08/