Today, mining analyst Stephan Bogner from Rockstone Research published an update on the rare earth element (“REE”) market providing a direct comparison between Molycorp Inc (NYSE:MCP) and Commerce Resources Corp. (TO:CCE).
Excerpts:
A few years back, during the market run of 2011, the bellwether in the rare earth element (REE) space was arguably Molycorp Inc. with its Mountain Pass Mine in California, USA. Having been a producing mine (1950/60s to 2002), that continued to produce from stockpiles even after closure, Mountain Pass was the western project (i.e. non-Chinese) best positioned to capitalize on the rapidly ascending REE prices. Unfortunately on June 25, 2015, Molycorp announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, bringing an end to the Mountain Pass Mine and the once heralded saviour of REE to the non-Chinese world.
The immediate question that comes to mind is: How could this happen? And, if Molycorp could not succeed, how in the world can any other REE junior, with a non-Chinese REE deposit, hope to succeed?
This report seeks to answer these two fundamental questions, with a straight up comparison between Molycorp’s Mountain Pass Mine and Commerce Resources’ Ashram Deposit, but it will also pose another set of questions that all relate to “Why does the world continue to allow itself to be dominated by China”?
Before the Mountain Pass Mine was brought back into production exactly 3 years ago (on August 27, 2012) for around half a billion dollars, Molycorp successfully sold a business plan to the United States, and the rest of the western world, that was promoted as being the answer, the solution, or you may call it the White Knight of a full-spectrum REE supply to the world. The sad fact is that Molycorp was not able to be this saviour.
“In race of life, it does not matter who finishes first. What matters most is being able to complete your race.” (Lailah Gifty Akita)
The western world needs new sources of REEs. Unfortunately, this is not Molycorp. Fortunately, we still have Ashram.
Please read the full disclaimer within the full research as a PDF as conflicts of interest may exist.