Ossieboy, China and Lynas are not the only rare earth players.
ASM's KPM (Korea Metal Plant) is in production of NdPr (Praseodymium) and NdFeB (Neodymium/ Iron / Boron) albeit at a low scale. These rare earth elements are used in super powered magnets. The Korea Metal Plant is close to ramping up production.
Blackstone has an MOU with ASM and VTRE.
Now, isn't it possible that BSX will (one day in the future) assist ASM in mining the second largest rare earth deposits in the world which happen to be very close to Ta Khoa in the North West of Vietnam?Maybe they’ll get a tenement.
While I’m only speculating here, the ducks really seem to be lining up nicely, and BSX is in an excellent position due to a great relationship already established with the Vietnamese government.
Further, it is my belief that the Vietnamese would like to have more control of the downstream rare-earth refining process as Vietnamese rare earth ore is currently being refined in China.
Now I understand the need to focus on Ni. In fact, Rick has stated on many occasions that we should be mining and concentrating our measured Nickel to generate cash flow, but I really do see rare earths as a huge opportunity in the future.
Geopolitics is one of the main reasons for my investment into BSX. Collaboration between ASM, VTRE (Vietnam Rare Earths) and BSX sits nicely within that rationale.
