NioCorp Developments Ltd. has announced plans to accelerate the construction of their Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska, following China's decision to limit exports of heavy rare earth elements. The project, which is fully permitted and awaiting final financing, aims to produce Made-in-America niobium, scandium, titanium, and potentially heavy rare earth oxides. This development comes as U.S. automotive and defense manufacturing sectors face potential production halts due to shortages of high-performance rare earth magnets. NioCorp's initiative is seen as a critical step to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains for these strategic materials.