Latest news with #scandium
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NioCorp Can Make America the "Saudi Arabia of Scandium," CEO Mark Smith Tells Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo
Mr. Smith Says President Trump's Critical Minerals Policies are "Smart and Brave," Especially in Terms of Proposing Critical Minerals Price Supports CENTENNIAL, CO / / August 6, 2025 / In a live appearance today ( on the Fox Business News program "Mornings with Maria," host Maria Bartiromo asked Mark Smith, Chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB), about the possibility of America emerging as a global "scandium superpower" as a result of NioCorp's proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the "Project") in southeast Nebraska. "Maria, the potential here is that America can become the Saudi Arabia of Scandium," Mr. Smith said. "That is how much we can produce. A single mine in the State of Nebraska can produce more scandium than is produced in the entire world today. That is our capability." "Much like niobium increases the strength of steel, scandium increases the strength of aluminum when you alloy them together. You end up with a lighter material, a much stronger alloy with much higher yield strength, very corrosion resistant, and weldable. Those are very important aspects for fighter jets, submarines, and for satellites." It lowers the weight which allows for large payloads for these devices. This is very important from a defense standpoint." "The way we win the race against China is exactly how President Trump is doing it now," Mr. Smith said. "They are providing price floor guarantees for these minerals. That takes away the normal Chinese routine of taking 100% of the market share, allowing prices to rise, and then as soon as anyone else wants to come into the space, they drop prices so that no one can get project financing. Price floor supports take that issue away and the normal M.O. for the Chinese industrial system is no longer going to be effective." "That is brilliant and I can't thank the White House enough for being smart enough and brave enough to do this," Mr. Smith added. The interview followed yesterday's announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense of a $10 million agreement via Title III of the Defense Production Act ("DPA") with NioCorp's operating subsidiary Elk Creek Resources Corp. to support the establishment of a domestic scandium mine-to-manufacture supply chain via the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the "Project") in southeast Nebraska. # # # FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jim Sims, Corporate Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720) 334-7066, @NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #Titanium $rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium #ElkCreek ABOUT NIOCORP NioCorp is developing a critical minerals project in Southeast Nebraska (the "Elk Creek Project") that is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty metal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various lightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium are critical to the making of Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding NioCorp's expectation that the DoD other transaction agreement will help the company establish the first domestic scandium mine-to-master-alloy supply chain, assist in the development qualification, and deployment of aluminum-scandium alloy components into defense aerospace systems, and will accelerate consideration of up to $800 million in debt financing to niocorp by the U.S. Export-Import bank in a "whole of government" approach to critical minerals development; NioCorp's expectation of producing niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; the possibility that Niocorp could be fastest to market with heavy rare earth products; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," "should," "would" and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction and development of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; the future price of metals; the stability of the financial and capital markets; NioCorp's ability to service future debt, if any,and meet the payment obligations thereunder; and current estimates and assumptions regarding the benefits of NioCorp's business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II (the "Business Combination") and the standby equity purchase agreement (the "Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement" and, together with the Business Combination, the "Transactions") with YA II PN, Ltd., an investment fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP, and their benefits. Such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the following: NioCorp's ability to operate as a going concern; NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to receive a final commitment of financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, an other transaction agreement from the U.S. Department of Defense or a debt guarantee from UK Export Finance on acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions, including NioCorp's ability to access the full amount of the expected net proceeds under the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement; NioCorp's ability to continue to meet Nasdaq listing standards; risks relating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of the foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the terms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, or the Yorkville Equity Facility Financing Agreement may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing, on acceptable terms or at all; covenants contained in agreements with NioCorp's secured creditors that may affect its assets; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's history of losses; the material weaknesses in NioCorp's internal control over financial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weaknesses and the timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a passive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); the potential that the Transactions could result in NioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related sections of the Code; cost increases for NioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption in, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the market demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth products; current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures, and partnerships; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of mineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities; feasibility study results; the results of metallurgical testing; the results of technological research; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including changes in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining industry; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the timing and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining, or development activities; management of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land reclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; claims on the title to NioCorp's properties; potential future litigation; and NioCorp's lack of insurance covering all of NioCorp's operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. SOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US awards NioCorp unit $10 million to build scandium supply chain in Nebraska
(Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $10 million to Elk Creek Resources to help develop a scandium supply chain, it said on Tuesday, as Washington looks to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. The funding for the NioCorp Developments unit, under the Defense Production Act, will support engineering, drilling and feasibility studies at the Elk Creek project in Nebraska. Shares of NioCorp were up 4.8% in premarket trade. The U.S. has not mined scandium since 1969. Most of the global supply comes from China, Russia and Ukraine. The project is part of broader efforts to reduce U.S. reliance on China and other foreign suppliers of critical minerals, in line with a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump to boost domestic production. In early July, MP Materials unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost output of rare earth magnets and help loosen China's grip on the materials used to build weapons, electric vehicles and many electronics. Scandium is prized for making lightweight, high-strength alloys used in aircraft, hypersonic weapons and energy platforms. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
7 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US awards NioCorp unit $10 million to build scandium supply chain in Nebraska
Aug 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $10 million to Elk Creek Resources to help develop a scandium supply chain, it said on Tuesday, as Washington looks to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. The funding for the NioCorp Developments (NB.O), opens new tab unit, under the Defense Production Act, will support engineering, drilling and feasibility studies at the Elk Creek project in Nebraska. Shares of NioCorp were up 4.8% in premarket trade. The U.S. has not mined scandium since 1969. Most of the global supply comes from China, Russia and Ukraine. The project is part of broader efforts to reduce U.S. reliance on China and other foreign suppliers of critical minerals, in line with a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump to boost domestic production. In early July, MP Materials (MP.N), opens new tab unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost output of rare earth magnets and help loosen China's grip on the materials used to build weapons, electric vehicles and many electronics. Scandium is prized for making lightweight, high-strength alloys used in aircraft, hypersonic weapons and energy platforms.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US awards NioCorp unit $10 million to build scandium supply chain in Nebraska
(Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $10 million to Elk Creek Resources to help develop a scandium supply chain, it said on Tuesday, as Washington looks to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals. The funding for the NioCorp Developments unit, under the Defense Production Act, will support engineering, drilling and feasibility studies at the Elk Creek project in Nebraska. Shares of NioCorp were up 4.8% in premarket trade. The U.S. has not mined scandium since 1969. Most of the global supply comes from China, Russia and Ukraine. The project is part of broader efforts to reduce U.S. reliance on China and other foreign suppliers of critical minerals, in line with a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump to boost domestic production. In early July, MP Materials unveiled a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost output of rare earth magnets and help loosen China's grip on the materials used to build weapons, electric vehicles and many electronics. Scandium is prized for making lightweight, high-strength alloys used in aircraft, hypersonic weapons and energy platforms. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
28-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CEO.CA's Inside the Boardroom: Naskapi Nation Takes 5% Stake in Scandium Canada, Resource Base Expanding
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 28, 2025) - (" the leading investor social network in junior resource and venture stocks, shares exclusive updates with CEOs of junior mining explorers. Founded in 2012, a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc., is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for investors globally - with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Millions of people visit each year to connect with investors from around the world, share knowledge and view impactful stories about stocks, commodities, and emerging companies. Meet the Executive Shaping the Mining Landscape 'Inside the Boardroom' is more than just an interview series - it's a chance to gain firsthand knowledge from industry leaders, understanding their vision, challenges, and strategy. We caught up with Guy Bourassa, CEO of Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSXV: SCD), as the Naskapi Nation becomes an equity partner. Most scandium comes as a mining byproduct, limiting supply when demand grows. The Naskapi Nation saw something different in Scandium Canada's Quebec deposit - the world's only primary scandium source. Recent metallurgical tests hit 99.5% purity with strong recovery rates. With government grants pending and resource estimates up 30%, this project could reshape scandium supply chains while setting new standards for Indigenous partnerships in mining. Scandium Canada (TSXV: SCD) Cannot view this video? Visit: Tune in to 'Inside the Boardroom' each week and be part of the conversation that's shaping the business landscape. Visit or our YouTube page for hundreds more executive interviews from here. Interested in showcasing your company on 'Inside the Boardroom'? Get in touch with our team at sales@ for further details and opportunities. About The leading community for investors & traders in junior resource & venture stocks. is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for small-cap investors globally -- with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Since 2012, has brought millions of investors together from over 164 countries to discuss their portfolio holdings and find new investment opportunities. Download our App on iOS or Android marketplace or visit us today at to set up your free account. is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc. For further information please contact: Email: hello@ Website: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), OTC Best Market "(OTCQX") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement The information regarding any issuer contained or referred to in any interviews conducted by has been furnished by such issuer directly, and neither nor any of its affiliates or principals assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for any failure by an issuer to ensure disclosure of events or facts which may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains forward-looking information which involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, the objectives, goals, future plans, statements regarding exploration results and exploration and/or development plans of companies featured on the platform. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, currency risk and the other risks involved in the applicable exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the public documents of such companies filed on SEDAR or elsewhere from time to time. Undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
