@2ic ... " just so long as CBMM was happy to hold the price high...

@2ic ... " just so long as CBMM was happy to hold the price high and take a sales-hit as the dominant (monopolistic) niobium swing producer."

Very much a sour grapes type comment, especially thinking CBMM would be taking a sales hit with our mine operating.. you are aware that Niobium sales are growing somewhere between 5-10% per annum and that's likely to increase when battery use takes off.
CBMM have only bedded down their last large increase in production, and would have to spend a whole lot more on further expansion if a new player or players didn't come online..

They would also be well aware that potential customers will be much more likely to incorporate Niobium into products if they have a variety of sources for product, in case of a disaster at a one mine commodity. I would assume we'll be working with CBMM (really dumb not to!!) for the benefit of all parties.
All WA1 would take market wise is one to 2 years of growth in the overall market, then after we have started initial production of 12,000-25,000 tonnes, they can then expand further, as the market would need a lot more Niobium 2-3 years after we started production!! their next expannsion comes on in year 3-4 of our initial production, then allowing us to expand to stage 2 that will be needed a couple of years later..

It's east to see a couple of hundred thousand tonnes of Niobium needed by the battery industry alone by the mid 2030's, of which CBMM has no chance of keeping up with...