I read the same article and had somewhat the same concerns that you have.

It is true that the environmental issues are mentioned in the article and that "China has already moved to shut scores of high-polluting coal plants and could set its sights on smelters used to produce NPI". Also the production process depends on "inexpensive electricity", and outside of China I don't know where you find that.

The article says that the production costs are between $7 and $8 a pound at present. Combine that with the fact that China will have to increase its currency in the future and the cost per pound will necessarily have to increase. Also the fact that Chinese workers will receive wage increases in the future and the possible increase in production costs due to increases in the price of "cheap electricity" will also have an effect on the cost of production.

However it is certainly true that the negatives brought about by the production of NPI is certainly something to worry about in the future pricing of NI.

However if the price of NI stays in the $8 to $10 range a future producer like NOT would still do well. NOT is in the exploration phase and has a large area of land to explore. When, and not if, NOT discovers additional mineral resources it will become a takeover target and they will probably never get to the production phase itself.

I still see NOT as a good investment and look forward to a stock price gain in the future. As many have said previously, "Let the drilling prove the deposits".

Good luck to all.

EJA