FWIW, if you want to see a view of that "larger" set of arguments I'm making from an alternative market focused perspective... what it boils down to, with a couple of adjustments and caveats, is that I'm thinking that the Niostar JV could easily posture itself as the "Orbite" of niobium.
I've referenced this Jack Lifton article a couple of times in my recent posts...
Still useful to consider niobium in that context... particularly in context of what Orbite is doing in aluminum, while all the REE issues are still obviously relevant here, too ?
One obvious difference, though: the unique features of the rocks at Nemegosenda would mean there wouldn't be any similar advantages available to others in niobium... based on others use of the specific separations technologies ? The content of the rocks at Nemegosenda (paired with an optimized process) will define what "fraction" or segment of production might best be optimized to be focused on an "Orbite-like" business segment.
That's where I think "the rocks" can take Niostar... both to dominating the high end product market at lower cost, which is a big value... only while Niostar will also be able to compete across the full product market spectrum, at lower cost. The advantage grows in value more at the higher end... but, it's an advantage that spans the spectrum.
I think Niostar can be "both" the best, lowest cost, high end quality supplier... and a very large supplier... in a way that makes perfect sense.
And WHEN that is enabled and we see the result in the market... the fact in the result could drive other changes in niobium demand... accelerating growth.
Of course, seeing that the rocks do give you that huge "potential" competitive advantage, you do still have to bother yourself with doing the work in the metallurgy to prove every aspect along the path. You don't need to do that to see the obvious benefit in better values in niobium paired with better values in REE. But, there IS more value in the optimization of processing than in the fact of the numbers that the rocks prove.
As the article should make clear, China IS NOT the only game in town... any more... in separations technology, and given the big value drivers that are apparent in the markets, now, it is likely that innovation in that area will continue.
But, they're surely still competitive... and desire to remain so ?
It still makes WAY more sense for SRSR to work with China, than others... because Niostar IS still mostly about the niobium, first... while Niostar has many advantages in niobium, and China needs the niobium...
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