Phil Castle, The Business Times

Jim Sims sees a potentially dangerous confluence in the increasing reliance on rare earth minerals and the foreign countries that produce them.

He’s hopeful, though, a company for which he works will help remedy the situation with a project planned for Nebraska.

Sims, the vice president of external affairs for NioCorp Developments, discussed rare earth minerals during his presentation at an energy summit organized by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rare earth minerals play an increasingly important role in what he described as the “age of technology metals.”

While 99 percent of human cells are comprised of just six elements, no less than 118 elements go into the manufacture of a cellular telephone, Sims said.

Rare earth metals go into everything from appliances to electric vehicles to weapon systems. They’re critical for green technology as well as defense technology, he said.

But the U.S. must rely on imports of the metals from China, Russia and other countries, Sims said.

Even as more rare earth minerals are needed, there could be shortages, he said. “We have to make more.”

NioCorp is developing a mine and processing facility in Nebraska to produce niobium, scandium, titanium and other rare earth minerals. The permits are in place to move ahead with construction, he said.