NioCorp Urges U.S. to Bolster Critical Mineral Production

NioCorp Developments Ltd. CEO, Mark Smith, has called for increased U.S. critical mineral production to counter the dependency on BRICS nations like Russia and China. In a Fox News op-ed, Smith advised President-elect Donald Trump to initiate a "Mine, Baby, Mine" strategy, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in minerals critical to the military.

BRICS nations have sought to replace the U.S. dollar as the primary currency, prompting Trump's tariff threats. According to Smith, the Elk Creek Project in Nebraska, under NioCorp's development, could play a pivotal role by producing niobium, scandium, titanium, and rare earths.

Smith warned of potential Chinese restrictions on critical materials, which may impact U.S. defense capabilities. To mitigate this, he proposed several initiatives, including low-interest loans for permitted mines and expanded Department of Defense support for new mining projects.