# NIOBIUM-TITANIUM OXIDE - APRIL 26, 2023 ~Kubota to produce EV battery material that boosts performance~ # [Kubota to produce EV battery material that boosts performance - Nikkei Asia](https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Kubota-to-produce-EV-battery-material-that-boosts-performance) [ Farm equipment maker Kubota will start producing a material for electric-vehicle batteries, aiming to create a new revenue source. \(Photo by Arisa Moriyama\) ](https://preview.redd.it/bub2w0o887wa1.png?width=1400&format=png&auto=webp&s=a1be6fd5007e1a00fafc6b3e1e9a10b6ee91fc03) OSAKA- JAPANESE farm machinery builder KUBOTA will begin manufacturing a material expected to make electric-vehicle batteries charge faster and last longer. Kubota recently established technology to mass-produce TITANIUM-NIOBIUM oxide, an alternative to graphite as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries. -(Article continues via subscription...) ​ # China ramps up rare-earth production to meet EV, wind power demand Beijing raises cap amid rising demand and worry over risk to U.S. imports [China ramps up rare-earth production to meet EV, wind power demand - Nikkei Asia](https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Materials/China-ramps-up-rare-earth-production-to-meet-EV-wind-power-demand) ​ [ Soil containing rare earths is transported for export at a port in China's Jiangsu province, a producer of the metals. © Reuters ](https://preview.redd.it/kuianx1397wa1.png?width=1400&format=png&auto=webp&s=6096bf784c2f8e39c9b64118e3b0f409a1ad649f) BEIJING -- State-owned Chinese resources developers are expanding production of rare-earth metals in response to higher government quotas, working to build a supply chain that can handle growing demand for electric vehicles and other high-tech products. China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech, China's biggest player in the field,in March announced plans to expand a refining & processing facility in Inner Mongolia into one of the largest in the world. The 7.8 Billion yuan ($1.1 billion) project is expected to take a year & a half to build..... -(Article continues via subscription...) # April 25, 2023 ~GM, Samsung partner to build $3 billion US battery plant~ [GM and Samsung partner to build a new $3 billion battery cell factory in the US | Electrek](https://electrek.co/2023/04/25/gm-samsung-sdi-build-battery-cell-factory-us/) https://preview.redd.it/h30vm3w1s7wa1.png?width=1500&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c6633e986e71afa807b891a2c2cff513ec504c1 GM and Samsung SDI have announced that they are partnering to build a new $3 billion battery cell factory in the US to power GM’s electric vehicles. It’s a change for GM, which has so far been mostly partnered with LG Energy for its battery cell supply. For the last few years, GM has been heavily investing in battery manufacturing in the US in order to support its transition to electric vehicles. It partnered with Korea’s LG to create Ultium Cells, a new joint venture to build battery cells in the US. The partnership has already resulted in three battery factories in the US that are now in production or construction phases. There’s [one in Ohio](https://electrek.co/2022/09/01/gm-begins-us-ultium-battery-production-for-hummer-ev/), [one in Tennessee](https://electrek.co/2021/04/14/gm-second-massive-battery-cell-gigafactory-us-lg/), and [one in Michigan](https://electrek.co/2022/01/25/gm-lg-giant-new-50-gwh-battery-cell-factory-us/). GM and LG have been working on a fourth US battery factory, but it was reported in January that the plan for a new battery plant in the US is [on hold “indefinitely” ](https://electrek.co/2023/01/20/gm-and-lg-halt-plans-for-a-fourth-ev-battery-plant-in-the-us/)after talks between GM and LG failed to move forward. ## GM now partners with Samsung SDI Now GM is announcing a partnership with Samsung SDI to build a new battery cell factory in the US: >**General Motors Co. and Samsung SDI announced today they plan to invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States that is targeted to begin operations in 2026.** In a press release, GM announced that the new factory will have a capacity of “more than 30 GWh” and it will bring GM’s total capacity in the US to about 160 GWh. Interestingly, GM and Samsung are talking about building production lines to build both “nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells.” Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, commented: >**We will continue to scale production and optimize the chemistry of our pouch cells for performance, range and cost using new approaches pioneered at GM’s Wallace Battery Center and by our technology partners. The introduction of new cell form factors will allow us to expand into even more segments more quickly and integrate cells directly into battery packs to reduce weight, complexity and costs. With multiple strong cell partners, we can scale our EV business faster than we could going it alone.** GM and Samsung SDI are not ready to disclose where in the US the new factory will be located. ## Electrek’s Take It’s an interesting development. GM seemed to have one of the strongest battery cell partnerships in the US with LG Energy through its Ultium Cells joint venture. That partnership was certainly shaken by the Bolt EV battery recall, but it seemed to still be going strong. And it might still be going strong. This might be just a smart move from GM to diversify its battery cell supply chain. ​ # DoE/LPO RELEASES ~ FY 2022 Annual Portfolio Status Report: Returning to a Growing Portfolio~ on APRIL 24, 2023 # [FY 2022 Annual Portfolio Status Report: Returning to a Growing Portfolio | Department of Energy](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/fy-2022-annual-portfolio-status-report-returning-growing-portfolio?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) *In fiscal year (FY) 2022 the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) reached a new success milestone for the first time in almost a decade—as the organization entered growth mode it has the prospect to rapidly expand the portfolio of closed loans. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) greatly increased LPO’s capacity to promote critical investments in energy technology, transportation, and critical infrastructure in the Unites States; and LPO moved quickly and carefully to implement these changes in an effective manner that fulfills the mission of the office while protecting taxpayer resources. All told, FY 2022 marked the beginning of a new era of opportunities for federal support for low-carbon innovation and new avenues of economic growth. LPO achieved 4 new conditional commitments for over $4B in loans in FY 2022, significantly advancing its mission to empower the private sector in the clean energy transition. In FY 2022, LPO also closed its first loans in both its Title 17 and ATVM programs since 2015. Every active LPO borrower remaining in the portfolio repaid principal in FY 2022, achieving $1.7 billion in principal retirement and $523 million in interest payments to the U.S. Treasury. Cumulative principal payments now exceed $13.7 billion, 43% of the $31.6 billion LPO has disbursed. The portfolio remains concentrated in creditworthy assets, with 70% of exposure held by investment grade borrowers, and it maintains a low aggregate loss rate of 3% of funds disbursed.* ​ https://preview.redd.it/jhp8iv7bb7wa1.png?width=1019&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ec52d688570efc581cb617b76d678752a25d57d # LPO provides loans and loan guarantees for large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the United States. LPO administers four programs: **• The Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, which finances next-generation U.S. energy infrastructure;** **• The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program, which finances U.S. manufacturing of fuel-efficient, advanced technology vehicles and qualifying components;** **• The Tribal Energy Financing Program, which finances tribal ownership of energy development projects; and** **•The Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) Program, which LPO will manage in partnership with DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and is designed to support large capacity, common carrier carbon dioxide transport projects.** *Leveraging collective decades of financial, technical, legal, and environmental experience of its team members, LPO has closed more than $36 billion in loans and loan guarantees that help enable decarbonization technologies to become bankable so that they can be scaled via commercial debt markets. LPO addresses the financing gaps that arise when commercial lenders are unwilling to issue any or adequate debt or when a project deploys technology that has yet to demonstrate an adequate history of commercial operations.* *Once LPO closes a loan or loan guarantee, projects are monitored and evaluated throughout project construction, commissioning, and operation until the loan has been repaid in full, protecting taxpayer interests. With a proven track record that includes transforming existing energy infrastructure, reviving nuclear construction, accelerating the growth of utility-scale solar and wind, and expanding the domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs), LPO has helped de-risk emerging energy technologies, unlock new business models, and mobilize private spending.* ​ https://preview.redd.it/4f636lh3c7wa1.png?width=767&format=png&auto=webp&s=668c6385f8041b770f081e26a365eb1a361d5708 # SEE ALSO # DoE/LPO~ Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Carbon Management [Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Carbon Management (energy.gov)](https://liftoff.energy.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20230424-Liftoff-Carbon-Management-vPUB_update.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) https://preview.redd.it/e3ao4q5dd7wa1.png?width=979&format=png&auto=webp&s=bacff7a6228e6f305365fa3e8e10da176db1fef5 # Purpose of this Report These Commercial Liftoff reports aim to establish a common fact base and ongoing dialogue with the private sector around the path to commercial lift-off for critical clean energy technologies. Their goal is to catalyze more rapid and coordinated action across the full technology value chain. # Executive Summary Modeling studies suggest reaching U.S. energy transition goals will require capturing and storing 400 to 1,800 million tonnes (MT) of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) annually by 2050, through both point-source carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).i Today, the U.S. has over 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon capture capacity, 1–5% of what could be needed by 2050.1,ii, iii This scale-up represents a massive investment opportunity of up to \~$100 billion by 2030 and $600 billion by 2050. America’s >20 MTPA of capture capacity already leads the world in carbon management, and the U.S. is an attractive policy and resource environment for further deployment. An increase in the value of the 45Q tax credit—a federal tax credit provided for stored or utilized CO2—has provided a greater incentive and more certainty to developers and investors and is likely to yield attractive returns for several types of projects.iv In addition, recent climate and infrastructure legislation has provided \~$12 billion in funding to support U.S. carbon management projects. The U.S. has excellent geology for storing CO2 , world-class engineering and professional talent, and relatively abundant low-cost zero-carbon energy resources that can power carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects to maximize net carbon removed. Many large-scale carbon management projects are already proving financially attractive today with enhancements to the federal 45Q tax credit, and investors have raised billions to take advantage of these opportunities.v,vi These investments range from early-stage equity investments in carbon capture technology providers to large-scale private equitybacked investments in CO2 transport infrastructure. This report outlines the path to meaningful scale in carbon management, which we expect to develop between near-term and longer-term opportunities through 2030 (Figure 1.).2,3,4 1. For near-term (through 2030) opportunities, projects in industries with high-purity CO2 streams (e.g., ethanol, natural gas processing, hydrogen) have the best project economics. Many of these types of projects are in active development or are already in operation. Large-scale transportation and storage infrastructure is likely to emerge to serve these projects. These developments—along with some promising demonstration projects in higher-cost carbon management applications (e.g., steel, cement)—will lay the foundation for more widespread deployment by establishing best-practices in contracting, financing, permitting, community engagement, labor agreements, workforce development, and, in some cases, through building out common carrier transport and storage infrastructure that future projects can use. 2. For longer-term (post-2030) opportunities—industries with lower-purity CO2 streams and distributed process emissions — project economics must improve to make widescale deployment likely in the absence of other drivers (e.g., regulation). Demonstration projects from now through 2030 can support cost declines—both through learning-by-doing and standardizing project development structures. And increased policy support (either via regulation or incentives) or technology premiums for low-carbon products (e.g., low embodied carbon steel and concrete) would lead to more CCUS and CDR projects.5 These end-user-backed technology premiums combined with sustained and predictable government support can provide consistent revenue streams as deployment experience reduces costs. # ON AUGUST 17, 2022 NIOCORP STATED ~New Federal Legislation Could Deliver Powerful New Benefits to NioCorp for its Critical Minerals~ [New Federal Legislation Could Deliver Powerful New Benefits to NioCorp for its Critical Minerals - NioCorp Developments Ltd.](https://www.niocorp.com/new-federal-legislation-could-deliver-powerful-new-benefits-to-niocorp-for-its-critical-minerals/) [ Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Provides a 10% Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit Applicable to Most of NioCorp’s Planned Products](https://preview.redd.it/jl0xbrv8e7wa1.png?width=980&format=png&auto=webp&s=1560aec400eae53fdc2e72ad6585d8538949cdf0) ***New Electric Vehicle Federal Tax Credit Tied to Increasing use of Critical Minerals That are Produced in the U.S. or Allied Nations*** **CENTENNIAL, Colo., August 17, 2022— The “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” signed into law by President Biden this week, includes multiple financial and tax incentives designed to encourage greater production of critical minerals in the U.S. Virtually all of the critical minerals NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (TSX:NB) (OTCQX:NIOBF) intends to produce as part of its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska (the “Project”) would be eligible for new tax credits once the Project is financed and placed into commercial production.** **“President Biden and Congressional leaders deserve credit for ‘walking the talk’ in this legislation on the need to make more of our own critical minerals in the U.S., and to reduce our reliance on foreign nations that hold the key to our nation’s success in transitioning to a less carbon-intensive economy,” stated Mark A. Smith, NioCorp’s President, CEO and Executive Chairman.** # Other Provisions That Could Benefit NioCorp **Other provisions of the law are aimed at encouraging greater production of critical minerals in the U.S.:** **$500 million for “enhanced use” of the Defense Production Act to provide economic incentives to create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic sources for critical components, critical technology items, and industrial resources.** # $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. # THE 2023 National Defense Act Calls out ~NIOBIUM & TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & the need to establish a U.S. Industrial Base for the Supply & Processing of ALL! (Pages # 242-#256)~ [https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf](https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf) https://preview.redd.it/i7nojw37f7wa1.png?width=865&format=png&auto=webp&s=c267d04045659cf15853887dac34df21790b6805 # NIOCORP IS WORKING TO COMPLETE FINAL DEMONSTRATION PLANT OPERATIONS WHICH WILL PROVE OUT PRODUCTION AT SCALE!!!!!!~ (FOR NIOBIUM, SCANDIUM, TITANIUM & VIABLE RARE EARTH MINERALS)~ "Maybe Folks need this information prior to final commitments.....???)** # DoE/LPO Project Pipeline Updates MARCH 2023 [125 applications asking for cumulatively $119.0B of loans!!!!!](https://preview.redd.it/ipvcj1ake7wa1.png?width=820&format=png&auto=webp&s=576cea9b4ab788cdf18be5deefcea63d47546f00) ***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***](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/posters)***, featuring*** [***hydrogen***](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/hydrogen)***,*** [***critical materials***](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/critical-materials)***, and*** [***advanced fossil***](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/advanced-fossil)***. We also launched the*** [***VPPieces***](https://www.energy.gov/lpo/listings/vppieces) ***blog series to educate consumers and other stakeholders about the role virtual power plants (VPPs) can play in the clean energy transition.*** \*\*\*\*(THERE ARE OVER 125 ACTIVE & PENDING APPLICATIONS SEEKING OVER $119 BILLION. APPLICATIONS THAT THE DoE/LPO does not Comment ON...UNTIL they DO......! )\*\*\* ​ # Sharing Responses from Jim Sims to three relevant questions on 3/13/2023 *\*\*Jim-\*\*A) Could you offer comment on What Scope 3 emissions mean for the Elk Creek mine moving forward into production & to the end users utilizing the products being processed at the mine? & Would Niocorp's Scope 3 Carbon Emission Reductions qualify for/as "Carbon Credits" in the context above? Could/Does Niocorp's "Carbon Friendly GHG/ESG" mining processes & work scope qualify for- INNOVATIVE CLEAN ENERGY LOAN GUARANTEES | Department of Energy?* Response: **"We have made an internal estimate of the benefits of our planned products at a Scope 3 emissions level. However, the definition and applicability of Scope 3 emissions must eventually be determined by government regulators, and the SEC is examining many aspects of this issue now.** # At present and in general, carbon credits are created by mitigation measures taken at the Scope 1 emissions level, although there are several different approaches being examined across the U.S. As to DOE programs, I am not allowed to comment on that at this time." ​ B) Is/Could an "ANCHOR" Investor/s still have interest in the Elk Creek Project? Comment If you can... (A,B,C,D.... as all options are on the table.) **Response:** # "Yes. " C) (Follow up) - Is Niocorp still engaged with "Several Federal Agencies" other than the EXIM Bank as sources for "Debt" or Off-take agreements? Comment if you can... ***Response:*** # "Yes, multiple federal agencies, elected officials in the Congress, and the WH. " [\~TEAM NIOCORP IN D.C. MEETING WITH White House Staff Jan. 2023\~ \\"It does sound like other options are still on the table.....imho...\\"](https://preview.redd.it/m7v5puzwd7wa1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=630915a592868496dd14ef58a60acddad1a3f65f) # MARCH 7, 2023~Centennial company gets big boost in its plans to mine strategic minerals and metals in the U.S.~ [Centennial, Colorado, company NioCorp Developments gets big boost in its plans to mine strategic minerals and metals in the United States - CBS Colorado (cbsnews.com)](https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/niocorp-developments-mine-strategic-minerals-metals-united-states-centennial-colorado/) [ CBS News Colorado's Shaun Boyd interviews Mark Smith. ](https://preview.redd.it/jueryxn7g7wa1.png?width=620&format=png&auto=webp&s=f1f0e6da22e0cd7638b5e60baab5de52cac5b5c3) # Smith says NioCorp has been laying the groundwork for the mining project for nearly 10 years. "We have all of our permits in place. We have our technical feasibility study done. We've done all the drilling to define the mineral resources." He says the company will know in the next 6-9 months if the Export-Import bank's financing will come through. It will take about 3 years, he says, to build the mine, which will employ 400-500 workers. NioCorp also plans to open a manufacturing facility with the mine to convert the minerals and metals into useable products like magnets. Smith says, NioCorp already has buyers lined up for the niobium and scandium. # "We have a ways to go but the good news is people are starting to see this and are taking steps to make those changes. We've been preaching this for a long time without an audience. (Now) we have an audience." # APRIL 4, 2023 ~NioCorp Achieves Processing # Breakthrough in Demonstration Plant Testing of Niobium and Titanium Production~ [NioCorp Achieves Processing Breakthrough in Demonstration Plant Testing of Niobium and Titanium Production - NioCorp Developments Ltd.](https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-achieves-processing-breakthrough-in-demonstration-plant-testing-of-niobium-and-titanium-production/) [ New Process May Allow NioCorp to Produce Higher-Purity Versions of its Niobium and Titanium Products, Which May Open New Markets to the Company ](https://preview.redd.it/jn673dave7wa1.png?width=350&format=png&auto=webp&s=98c1ffaeda95f5d796a0fa3aebbd98fbf4fd0903) **CENTENNIAL, Colo. (April 4, 2023) – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company“) (Nasdaq:NB; TSX: NB) and L3 Process Developments (“L3“) are pleased to announce a process breakthrough in niobium and titanium recovery achieved at L3’s demonstration-scale processing plant Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. The breakthrough points to a potentially more efficient way to process niobium and titanium into higher-purity products, which may in turn open up new markets for NioCorp’s proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the** **“Project“) planned products, once sufficient financing is obtained to allow the Project to proceed to commercial operation.** Form Your Own Opinions & Conclusions above!Given the responses above. I would speculate that other U.S. Govt. Entities ARE INTERESTED & INVOLVED, & not just the EXIM Bank. Even an Anchor Investor could be a Private Industry Partner, or Federal or Allied State player/s. # ~RESULTS PENDING END OF APRIL~MAY 2023~ "INTERESTING TRAIL!".....~ # Form Your Own Opinions & Conclusions above! Given the responses above. I would speculate that other U.S. Govt. Entities ARE INTERESTED & INVOLVED, & not just the EXIM Bank. Even an Anchor Investor could be a Private Industry Partner, or Federal or Allied State player/s.GIVEN : The June 2022 updated Feasibility Studies NPV currently does not include any UPDATED ECONOMICS from the ongoing Final Demonstration Plant operations! One can imagine below what the possibilities might be once Rare Earths & improved Recovery Rates for Titanium & Niobium are added into a final 2023 F.S.REE production “North of 750 tons per year!” per Scott Honan # SEE VIDEO ~ NioCorp Developments has a " very Large Rare Earth deposit" in Nebraska~ [https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/982962/niocorp-developments-has-a-very-large-rare-earth-deposit-in-nebraska-982962.html](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/982962/niocorp-developments-has-a-very-large-rare-earth-deposit-in-nebraska-982962.html) ​ **My guess NIOCORP will produce the following when compared to MP materials & 3 other U.S. projects (& This could be low! NIOCORP could produce 1000 TONS PER/YEAR given the metrics of the deposit IMHO!)** **600 tons per year Ny/Pr** = 600,000kg x $134 = **$80,400,000** **24 tons per year of Tb** = 24,000kg x $1,800 = **$43,200,000** **120 tons per year of Dy** = 120,000kg x $260 = **$31,200,000** **Total REE annual value prior to OPEX = $154,800,000 Million at 750 Tons/yr.** **\~ I THINK Niocorp's numbers for Dy & Tr might be a touch more! 30mt & 170mt respectively??? I wouldn't put it past SCOTT & the Team to be able to push output to 1,000 Tons per year!??T.B.D.\~** **That’s $150M plus +\\\~ in additional earnings (Before Opex). \*\*NOTE: This doesn’t include increased recovery rates for the Nb & Ti $$$.** \~Niocorp "Could" push earnings to $600 Million/year\~(\*\*\*\*\*NOTE: Improved Recoveries of Niobium, & Titanium as an improved Titanium Oxide. CaCO3 & MgCO3 New Byproducts & a possible Fe product T.B.D. - "Oh my!") \~MP MATERIALS CAN ONLY PRODUCE LIGHT RARE EARTHS!!!!! & WILL NOT PRODUCE NIOBIUM, SCANDIUM OR TITANIUM\~"MAYBE OTHER ENTITIES ARE WAITING FOR ALL FINAL DEMO RESULTS TO BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS ???? # Waiting for Material News as it becomes available with Many! ​ https://preview.redd.it/qnxsyxy2h7wa1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=9ebcc1bb562b38decc16bf4936c4f3005d985c24 # "Time to Make PANCAKES!".... Go Team NIOCORP..... "ENGAGE!" Chico
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