Ann: West Arunta Project - High Grade Nb-Ta in Weathered Zone, page-271

The plot thickens! Niobium is considered a top strategic metal for the US. The Asian backers who bought Niobec are actually Chinese. The Canadian government has ordered divestment of specific critical minerals companies however that hasn't included Niobec - as yet

https://cwf.ca/research/publications/china-brief-088/

"Feds order Chinese divestment in Canada’s critical minerals
Multiple Chinese companies with ownership stakes in Canadian critical mineral mines, including Vancouver-based Power Metals Corp. and Ultra Lithium, have been ordered by the federal government to divest their holdings in Canada, the Globe and Mail reports. The target companies on Ottawa’s list are small compared to the mega-Canadian critical mineral companies that have deeper ties with China. Bloomberg estimates at “least 27 public companies” have connections with “89 announced acquisitions and investments in Canadian metals and mining companies in the past decade” valued at $14 billion. If the federal government pushes for additional divestment, some companies could be “in a bind in terms of finding alternate sources of financing” as foreign investment law specialist Subrata Bhattacharjee told Bloomberg. The divestment order has been met with firm opposition from China in a statement last week that states “China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interest of Chinese companies,” a China-based news source reports. The divestment order did not come with a plan to replace Chinese investment, assuming that there are other sources. A possible alternative has been reported by CBC, writing that “The United States military has been quietly soliciting applications for Canadian mining projects that want American public funding through a major national security initiative.” The article notes that this is because “Canada has, for decades, belonged to the U.S. military-industrial base and is every bit as entitled to the cash (sic. new US defence Production Act funds) as American mining projects.” Also of interest in the mining divesture announcement was the absence of mention of Chinese ownership stake in the Niobec mine in Saguenay, Quebec. The Niobec mine is one of the only sources of niobium, a longstanding top strategic mineral for the U.S. In a previous brief, we covered the implications of China pulling out of the Canadian critical minerals game, and what the industry and investors could be left with. The Toronto Star also covered whether or not this divestment order is actually in the best interest of Canada, read that here. "