お知らせ • Sep 08
NioCorp Developments Ltd. Completes Pentagon-Funded Drilling Campaign at Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project
NioCorp Developments Ltd. announced that a Pentagon-funded exploratory drilling program at the Company's Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project ("Elk Creek Project") in southeast Nebraska has been completed. The resource drilling program, funded by the Pentagon, was designed to support converting a portion of the Company's current Indicated Resources into Measured Resources and the subsequent conversion of a portion of its current Probable Mineral Reserves into Proven Mineral Reserves. The effort was designed to meet Mineral Reserve requirements of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. as it processes a proposed debt financing package of up to $800 million for the Elk Creek Project. Phase I of the resource drilling program, which was completed in August, involved 11 HQ diamond drill holes, totaling approximately 7,336 meters of drilling. Phase 2 of the resource drilling program involved four HQ diamond drill holes totaling approximately 2,235 meters of drilling. Two additional HQ diamond drill holes are currently underway and are being drilled for geomechanical purposes in the areas where the Company plans to locate underground mine access ramps/declines. NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project, which is expected to produce niobium, scandium, and titanium, and the potential of producing rare earths, at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete construction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation. 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, scandia, 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 company's exploration, mining, or development projects; and other regulatory requirements.