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Trump order may help Elk Creek Mine project

By John Nixon

03/25/2025

(KLZA)--An Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump last week is expected to put the U.S. On the path to critical minerals self-sufficiency and help to reduce the country's reliance on foreign products from the likes of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa according to Mark Smith, Executive Chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments, the company developing the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Southeast, Nebraska.

The Elk Creek Project is to produce critical minerals including niobium, scandium, titanium and magnetic rate earth oxides, once project financing is obtained.

Smith says the President's proposed fast-tracking permitting for minerals projects is another good step in the right direction.

NioCorp is now working with the U.S. Export-Import Bank to secure up to $800 million in potential debt financing for the Elk Creek Project through the the Export-Import Bank program “Make More in America” initiative.

In addition, NioCorp is in discussion with the U.S. Department of Defense to potentially secure up to $10 million in grant funding to help the company advance the Elk Creek Project.

NioCorp is unable to estimate how long the application process with the Bank or Department of Defense may take, nor is there assurances the company will be able to successfully negotiate a final commitment of debt financing.

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