NioCorp// Western Nations Accelerate $12B Critical Mineral Initiatives as Global Export Restrictions Reach Record Highs/
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VANCOUVER, BC, May 7, 2026 /CNW/ -- The money tells the story. Western governments just committed $12.1 billion in new mining project capital through 30 partnerships at the 2026 PDAC conference, while the U.S. launched its FORGE coalition, pulling in 54 nations and locking down 11 bilateral supply agreements in a single day[1]. That spending is reactive. A new OECD inventory confirms global export restrictions on critical raw materials have hit an all-time high, with supply concentration for cobalt, lithium, and rare earths now exceeding 90% among the top three producing nations[2]. The structural shift is pulling capital down the entire Western mineral pipeline, from early stage exploration to commercial production, and five companies are positioned directly in its path: GoldHaven Resources (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF), Almonty Industries (NASDAQ: ALM) (TSX: AII), Brixton Metals (TSXV: BBB) (OTCQX: BBBXF), NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ: NB ), and Energy Fuels (NYSE-A: UUUU) (TSX: EFR).
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NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ: NB) announced Nebraska enacted legislation giving the company greater flexibility to qualify for approximately $200 million in state tax incentives over the first ten years of operations at the Elk Creek Project in southeast Nebraska, in return for investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the state and creating approximately 450 full-time equivalent jobs. Signed by Governor Jim Pillen on April 16, 2026, the legislation extends the period during which companies must meet Tier 6 Nebraska Advantage Act employment and investment requirements.
"I want to thank Governor Pillen, Revenue Committee Chairman Brad von Gillern, Senator Hallstrom, and members of the Nebraska Unicameral for supporting this effort," said Mark A. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NioCorp Developments. "Nebraska has stood behind the Elk Creek Project from the very beginning, and this is another clear demonstration of that commitment."
The Elk Creek Project is expected to create approximately 450 permanent direct jobs in southeast Nebraska, support an estimated 2,100 additional jobs throughout the broader state economy, and generate approximately $6.59 billion in operating expenses over the project's life. NioCorp Developments is a leading U.S. critical minerals developer focused on advancing the project toward production.