Stock**ad. Niobium, a rare critical mineral, is recapturing...

Stock**ad. Niobium, a rare critical mineral, is recapturing investor interest as the world’s largest producer of the metal begins testing its role in improving electric vehicle batteries in Brazil.As is the case with most critical minerals, many people have never heard of niobium despite its use in advanced technology and a wide range of industrial and green energy applications that the world is increasingly in need of.A large proportion of niobium (~90%) is consumed as ferroniobium in high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel for automobiles, aviation, oil pipelines and construction.But it’s the metal’s growing use in niche markets such as 5G tech, solar panels, batteries and nuclear energy that gives niobium the game changing edge and potential to become the next best thing.