Stellantis and NioCorp sign Term Sheet for Rare Earth metals supply

Amsterdam and Centennial, Colorado - Stellantis N.V., and NioCorp Developments Ltd. has announced the signing of a Rare Earth Offtake Term Sheet. The objective is to enter into a definitive rare earth supply agreement to and accelerate NioCorp’s path to commercial production of magnetic rare earth oxides in the U.S.

The Term Sheet executed is a definitive agreement for a 10-year offtake contract for specific amounts of neodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, and terbium oxide that NioCorp aims to produce at its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the “Elk Creek Project”) in southeast Nebraska, subject to the receipt of adequate project financing. Final volumes would be set in a definitive agreement.

Commenting on the Term Sheet agreement, Stellantis Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer Maxime Picat said, “Stellantis intends to lead the industry with the commitment to be carbon net zero by 2038 – a goal that requires innovation and a complete redefinition of our sourcing strategies. By working with partners like NioCorp, we are taking important steps, with the aim of decarbonizing mobility and ensuring strategic supplies of raw materials necessary for the success of the Company’s global electrification plans highlighted in our Dare Forward 2030 strategy.”

Mark Smith, Executive Chairman and CEO of NioCorp said, “We are very pleased to announce that NioCorp and Stellantis have agreed to collaboratively develop Stellantis’ magnetic rare earth supply chain, including helping to identify a sintered rare earth permanent magnet manufacturer that provides additional geographic optionality to Stellantis, in support of their ambitious commitment to reach carbon net zero by 2038. We believe that NioCorp’s position as a potential U.S. supplier of multiple critical minerals needed for vehicle electrification offers Stellantis important optionality to secure supply chains and support its growth targets.”

As no economic analysis has been completed on the rare earth mineral resource comprising the Elk Creek Project, further studies are required before determining whether extraction of rare earth elements can be reasonably justified and is economically viable after taking account of all relevant factors.

About NioCorp

NioCorp is developing a critical minerals project in Southeast Nebraska that will produce niobium, scandium, and titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earths from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications.