"Why would the Russian company help fund MNS without any due...

"Why would the Russian company help fund MNS without any due diligence on other offtakes when MNS needs the battery end user offtakes to make it a viable project"

without further details regarding the MOU can't see how you can make this statement. IMO the Russian company" is only interested in what its got to gain for itself. IMO if it is able to obtain the product it requires ASAP by assisting in financing then it would have everything to gain regardless of other MNS off-takes. The Russian company will no doubt be looking at its forward contracts for works to be provided so it may make economic sense for them to bring forward projects due to the now accessable jumbo graphite. win win for both.

don't overlook the other business areas that the Russian company is involved with - there are quite a few applications for MNS graphite there - not just localised to reactors. The space implications alone could be substantial - who knows?.

again for them to enter into a MoU for the product as well as for finance IMO they would have done so based on their internal needs and requirements and finances.