Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023
OR
☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to

Commission file number: 001-34852

RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


British Columbia		N/A
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

P.O. Box 271049
Littleton, Colorado		80127
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(720) 278-2460		Not Applicable
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)		(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

⌧ Yes ◻ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ⌧ Yes ◻ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer ◻	Accelerated filer ◻	Non-accelerated filer ⌧	Smaller reporting company ☒	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

☐ Yes ⌧ No

Number of issuer’s common shares outstanding as of November 6, 2023: 212,858,451.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION		4
ITEM 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	4
ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	16
ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	19
ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	19
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION		19
ITEM 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	19
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	19
ITEM 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	20
ITEM 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	20
ITEM 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	20
ITEM 5.	OTHER INFORMATION	20
ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS	20
SIGNATURES		21

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Reporting Currency, Financial and Other Information

All amounts in this report are expressed in thousands of United States (“U.S.”) dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Financial information is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

References to “Rare Element,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” mean Rare Element Resources Ltd., our predecessors, and consolidated subsidiaries, or any one or more of them, as the context requires.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”), including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 2 of Part I of this report, contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to business prospects, predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, projections, objectives, strategies, assumptions, future events, performance or exploration and development efforts using words or phrases (including negative and grammatical variations) such as, but not limited to, “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intends,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “projects,” “believes,” “seeks,” or stating that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain that these plans, intentions, and expectations will be achieved. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following:

●

our business, prospects, and our overall strategy;

●

planned or estimated expenses and capital expenditures, including the Demonstration Plant’s (as defined below) expected costs of construction, operations, decommissioning, and the sources of funds to pay for such costs;

●

availability of liquidity and capital resources;

●

our ability to obtain financing or other funding sources to complete the Demonstration Plant project and progress other initiatives;

●

progress in developing our Demonstration Plant, the timing of that progress, and prospects for completing, commissioning, operating, and decommissioning the Demonstration Plant;

●

our Demonstration Plant team’s ability to receive the full amount of funding from the Department of Energy (“DoE”) through the remainder of the Demonstration Plant project;

●

our ability to receive the full amount of funding from the Wyoming Energy Authority (the “WEA”) grant for the Demonstration Plant;

●

our ability to complete and operate the Demonstration Plant to meet project objectives within the approved budget, and the timing for operating the Demonstration Plant;

●

our ability to progress the Demonstration Plant through the remaining DoE go/no-go decision points;

●

the source, quality, costs, and timing of securing materials, equipment, supplies, and resources, including human resources, for the construction and operation of the Demonstration Plant;

●

the plans for our projects or other interests, operations, or rights;

●

plans and strategies during and following the completion of operations of the Demonstration Plant, including the potential for further operation of the Demonstration Plant to meet additional objectives;

●

plans and strategies relating to the advancement of the Bear Lodge REE Project (as defined below); and

●

government regulations, including our ability to obtain, and the timing of, necessary governmental permits, licenses, and approvals.

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Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions that are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks associated with:

●

the significant influence of our majority shareholder, Synchron, on our major corporate decisions;

●

our ability to protect our intellectual property rights;

●

the ability of our Demonstration Plant to successfully operate and produce information that would support a decision by the Company to proceed with plans for a potential commercial-scale production facility;

●

the uncertain nature of supply and demand and their effect on prices for rare earth products;

●

technological advancements, substitutes, and the establishment of new uses and markets for rare earth products;

●

development risks, operational hazards, and regulatory approvals;

●

our reliance on the skill and expertise of third-party service providers;

●

the ability of third-party service providers to meet their contractual obligations, including those caused by supply chain disruptions and the effects those disruptions could have on our timelines and costs;

●

changes in legislation and regulations relating to the mining and rare earth industries, including environmental laws and regulations that impose material compliance costs, obligations, and liabilities;

●

difficulty in obtaining necessary governmental permits, licenses, and approvals for our Demonstration Plant, Bear Lodge REE Project, and other projects;

●

governmental interventions in the mining and rare earth industries, including increases in barriers to domestic production and international trade;

●

uncertainties regarding our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and attract sufficient capital resources to implement our projects and strategies;

●

our ability to attract and retain key personnel;

●

the impact of inflation affecting our business, including the costs and ability to complete the Demonstration Plant construction, operations and decommissioning, Bear Lodge REE Project, and other projects;

●

impact of external financial factors, including the security of our bank and investment account deposits;

●

risks and uncertainties inherent in estimates of future operating results;

●

changes in competitive factors, including the development or expansion of other projects that are competitive with ours;

●

our ability to complete planned financings and other transactions;

●

risks related to pandemics, epidemics, or other disease outbreaks, including the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains and the resulting disease containment measures implemented by various governments;

●

risks relating to the availability and costs of goods and services we need to achieve our plans and goals resulting from military conflicts or wars such as in Russia/Ukraine and the middle east;

●

information technology system disruptions, damage or failures, or cyber-attacks;

●

risks and uncertainties associated with litigation matters and opposition to our plans and operations by third parties;

●

share price volatility;

●

whether we deregister our common shares under the Exchange Act and/or list our common shares on another securities exchange;

●

the impact of foreign and domestic government actions impacting the pricing for or supply of rare earth products, including changes in the actual or perceived supply and demand for rare earths due to foreign government export controls;

●

the OTCQB Venture Marketplace standards and the “penny stock” rules and the impact on trading volume and liquidity due to our stock trading on the OTCQB Venture Marketplace;

●

risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022; and

●

other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, intended, or expected. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements may vary, possibly materially, from those anticipated, estimated, intended, or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Except as required

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by law, we disclaim any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by the foregoing cautionary statements. We advise you to carefully review the reports and documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, particularly our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. The reports and documents filed by us with the SEC are available at www.sec.gov and with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.com.

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except shares outstanding)


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
	(unaudited)		(audited)
ASSETS:
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,593	$	15,523
Due from related party (Note 4)		368		174
Prepaid to related party (Note 4)		3,243		2,142
Prepaid expenses and other		263		140
Total Current Assets		10,467		17,979

Equipment, net		30		15
Restricted cash		183		—
Right of use asset (Note 5)		205		273
Investment in land (Note 7)		600		600
Total Assets	$	11,485	$	18,867

LIABILITIES:
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	221	$	227
Lease liability, current (Note 5)		128		124
Total Current Liabilities		349		351

Reclamation obligation		182		132
Lease liability, long-term (Note 5)		101		168
Repurchase option (Note 7)		1,493		1,281
Other long-term liabilities		92		—
Total Liabilities		2,217		1,932

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common shares, no par value – unlimited shares authorized; shares outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 of 212,808,451 and 212,515,951, respectively		136,929		136,906
Additional paid in capital		29,075		28,673
Accumulated deficit		(156,736)		(148,644)
Total Shareholders’ Equity		9,268		16,935

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$	11,485	$	18,867

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Operating expenses:
Exploration and evaluation (See Note 4 for related party costs)	$	(2,508)	$	(770)	$	(6,183)	$	(2,267)
Corporate administration		(646)		(902)		(2,001)		(4,041)
Depreciation and amortization		(25)		(25)		(76)		(75)
Total operating expenses		(3,179)		(1,697)		(8,260)		(6,383)

Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income		130		78		391		100
Accretion expense		(70)		(71)		(212)		(213)
Interest expense		(7)		(23)		(23)		(31)
Gain on sale of equipment		—		—		12		—
Other income		—		8		—		—
Total non-operating income (expense)		53		(8)		168		(144)

Net loss	$	(3,126)	$	(1,705)	$	(8,092)	$	(6,527)

LOSS PER SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED	$	(0.01)	$	(0.01)	$	(0.04)	$	(0.03)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING		212,756,761		212,466,889		212,627,591		212,466,889

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(unaudited)


	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2023		2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(8,092)	$	(6,527)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation		1		1
Accretion expense		212		213
Right of use asset amortization		75		74
Lease liability		(70)		(62)
Stock-based compensation		402		2,480
Reclamation obligation		50		—
Other		82		(25)
		(7,340)		(3,846)

Changes in working capital:
Due from related party		(194)		(21)
Prepaid expenses and other		(1,227)		(1,622)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(5)		(653)
Net cash used in operating activities		(8,766)		(6,142)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale of equipment		12		—
Purchase of equipment		(16)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(4)		—

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Stock option exercise		23		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		23		—

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(8,747)		(6,142)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash- beginning of the period		15,523		24,947
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash- end of the period	$	6,776	$	18,805

	As of September 30,
	2023		2022
Reconciliation of amounts in the Balance Sheet to amounts in the Cash Flow Statement:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,593	$	18,805
Restricted cash, long-term		183		—
Total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period	$	6,776	$	18,805

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share amounts)

(unaudited)


				Additional
				Paid in		Accumulated
	Common Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		Total
Balance, June 30, 2022	212,466,889	$	136,906	$	27,781	$	(144,040)	$	20,647
Stock-based compensation	—		—		452		—		452
Net loss	—		—		—		(1,705)		(1,705)
Balance, September 30, 2022	212,466,889	$	136,906	$	28,233	$	(145,745)	$	19,394

Balance, June 30, 2023	212,613,451		136,913		29,004		(153,610)		12,307
Stock option exercises	195,000		16		—		—		16
Stock-based compensation	—		—		71		—		71
Net loss	—		—		—		(3,126)		(3,126)
Balance, September 30, 2023	212,808,451	$	136,929	$	29,075	$	(156,736)	$	9,268


				Additional
				Paid in		Accumulated
	Number of Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		Total
Balance, December 31, 2021	212,466,889	$	136,906	$	25,753	$	(139,218)	$	23,441
Stock-based compensation	—		—		2,480		—		2,480
Net loss	—		—		—		(6,527)		(6,527)
Balance, September 30, 2022	212,466,889	$	136,906	$	28,233	$	(145,745)	$	19,394

Balance, December 31, 2022	212,515,951	$	136,906	$	28,673	$	(148,644)	$	16,935
Stock option exercises	295,000		23		—		—		23
Stock-based compensation	—		—		402		—		402
Common shares cancelled	(2,500)		—		—		—		—
Net loss	—		—		—		(8,092)		(8,092)
Balance, September 30, 2023	212,808,451	$	136,929	$	29,075	$	(156,736)	$	9,268

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

1.	NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Rare Element Resources Ltd. (“we,” “us,” “Rare Element” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, on June 3, 1999.

Rare Element holds a 100% interest in the Bear Lodge rare earth elements project (the “Bear Lodge REE Project”) located near the town of Sundance in northeast Wyoming. The Bear Lodge REE Project consists of several large, disseminated rare earth elements (“REE”) deposits that comprise one of the highest-grade REE deposits identified in North America. In addition, to neodymium-praseodymium (“Nd/Pr”), the Bear Lodge REE Project has a favorable distribution of a number of other critical rare earth elements. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Sundance Gold Project that is adjacent to the Bear Lodge REE Project and contains a historical inferred mineral resource primarily composed of three gold targets within the area of the Bear Lodge property. Given the Company’s longstanding focus on the Bear Lodge REE Project and the current interest in REE, the advancement of the Sundance Gold Project has been on hold since 2011 and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future.

The Company is currently focused on the advancement of a rare earth processing and separation demonstration-scale plant (the “Demonstration Plant”) project. In January 2021, a consortium of companies, of which the Company is a part, received notice from the Department of Energy (“DoE”) that the consortium had been selected for negotiation of a potential financial award for the engineering, construction and operation of a rare earth separation and processing Demonstration Plant. The consortium of companies is led by General Atomics, an affiliate of Synchron, the Company’s majority shareholder, and includes certain of General Atomics’ affiliates, and LNV, an Ardurra Group, Inc. company, as engineering and construction subcontractor. A formal proposal was submitted by the consortium in response to a published Funding Opportunity Announcement in mid-2020 for the construction and operation of a rare earth separation and processing demonstration plant utilizing proprietary technology to produce commercial-grade products. The DoE finalized the award, and an agreement was executed by the DoE’s grants/agreement officer on September 27, 2021, with an effective date of October 1, 2021. The Company, as a subrecipient of the award, along with the other consortium members, commenced work on the planning and design of the Demonstration Plant project in November 2021, with the Company’s contractual arrangement with General Atomics finalized in December 2021. The DoE funding is in the amount of $21,900 and represents approximately one-half of the originally estimated costs for the Demonstration Plant. The Demonstration Plant will process already stockpiled high-grade sample materials from the Bear Lodge REE Project.

To address the Company’s funding needs, the Company completed, in December 2021, a rights offering for gross proceeds of approximately $25,400. The Company is using the net proceeds from the rights offering primarily for the permitting, licensing, engineering, and planned construction and operation of the Demonstration Plant near the Company’s Bear Lodge REE Project. The previously noted $21,900 financial award from the DoE was expected to fund approximately one-half of the expected total cost of the Demonstration Plant project, with the balance of the required funding being provided by the Company utilizing the proceeds from the rights offering, the $4,400 grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority (the “WEA”), as discussed more fully in Note 7, and other funding sources, as necessary. Due to inflationary pressures, we expect the initial Demonstration Plant project cost estimate of $43,800 to increase. We are currently evaluating project options to complete the construction, operation, and decommissioning (if necessary) of the Demonstration Plant. Potential options include changes to the project timeline and the raising of additional funds. Other options are also being explored.

During 2022 and through the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company continued its work on the Demonstration Plant project. This work is expected to continue over the remainder of 2023 and through the Demonstration Plant project’s expected completion date in the early part of 2025. In December 2022, the Demonstration Plant achieved its final engineering design milestone marking the completion of the DoE’s first go/no-go decision point. The completion of this milestone was a gating event for the DoE’s continued funding as provided for in the 2021 award grant. Future gating milestones include the DoE’s National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) review, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2023, and the approval to proceed with the Demonstration Plant’s construction, which is anticipated shortly thereafter. If such approval is received, construction will commence thereafter and is expected to be completed in mid-2024. Operations to process and separate the REE from the stockpiled sample materials are expected to follow the completion of the Demonstration Plant’s construction for an additional eight-to-ten-month period.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

During 2023, the GA-led consortium has seen increases in the Demonstration Plant project costs, including expected final equipment costs, due to, among other factors, inflation. Accordingly, the project team has commenced discussions with the DoE and other government agencies regarding further cost-sharing opportunities to offset the increase in the anticipated project budget and further project objectives. At this time, the Company has sufficient funding to complete construction of the Demonstration Plant; however, even with the completion of the 2021 rights offering and expected receipt of the WEA grant monies, the Company may not have sufficient funds to operate the Demonstration Plant for a sufficient period to obtain the information to support a commercialization decision. Further, the Company does not have sufficient funds to progress other activities, including with respect to (i) any potential funds for continuation of the Demonstration Plant’s operation to achieve further objectives beyond the current program objectives; and (ii) funds for any feasibility studies, permitting, licensing, development, and construction related to the Bear Lodge REE Project. Therefore, the achievement of these activities will be dependent upon the receipt of additional funds through financings, off-take agreements, joint ventures, strategic transactions, financial awards, or grants. We plan to seek additional funding no later than the end of the first quarter of 2024; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in completing a financing. Ultimately, in the event the Company cannot secure additional financial resources, or complete a strategic transaction in a timely manner, the Company may need to curtail or suspend its operational plans regarding the Demonstration Plant or other initiatives, or potentially liquidate its business interests, and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

The Company has incurred losses since its inception, and further losses are anticipated in the development of its business. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $6,593. On a comparative basis, we consumed cash of $8,766 during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, of which approximately $7,000 was used for the payment of costs associated with the Demonstration Plant project, while the remainder was used for the payment of the Company’s general and administrative expenses and other ongoing costs of sustaining its properties and mining claims.

2. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

In accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial statements, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include certain information and note disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022, which were included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (which are of a normal, recurring nature) necessary to present fairly in all material respects the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2023, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 in conformity with U.S. GAAP on a going concern basis. These interim results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 may not be indicative of the results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2023.

Restricted Cash

The Company periodically maintains cash deposits that are held and earmarked for a specific purpose. At September 30, 2023, the Company had $183 in restricted cash for amounts held by a third party as security for a surety bond for our Demonstration Plant.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

3. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price) and establishes a fair-value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value using the following definitions (from highest to lowest priority):

●

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

●

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

●

Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair-value measurement and unobservable.

Financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis and the level of inputs used in such measurements by major security type as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are presented in the following table:


Fair value at September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	6,368	$	6,368	$	—	$	—

Fair value at December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	5,216	$	5,216	$	—	$	—
U.S. Treasury bills		9,961		9,961		—		—

Money market funds and U.S. Treasury bills are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. These amounts are included on the balance sheet in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

4. RELATED PARTY

Cost Share Agreement with General Atomics

In January 2021, a consortium of companies, of which the Company is a part, received notice from the DoE that the consortium had been selected for negotiation of a potential financial award for the engineering, construction, and operation of the Demonstration Plant. The consortium of companies is led by General Atomics, an affiliate of Synchron (the Company’s majority shareholder), and includes certain of General Atomics’ affiliates, and LNV, an Ardurra Group, Inc. company, as engineering and construction subcontractor. A formal proposal was submitted by the consortium in response to a published Funding Opportunity Announcement in mid-2020 for the construction and operation of the Demonstration Plant utilizing proprietary technology to produce commercial-grade products. The DoE’s share of the Demonstration Plant project funding is $21,900 and represents approximately one-half of the total estimated costs for the project. The Demonstration Plant is planned to process already stockpiled high-grade sample materials from the Bear Lodge REE Project. The DoE agreement was executed by the DoE’s grants/agreement officer on September 27, 2021, with an effective date of October 1, 2021. The DoE award was finalized through a cooperative agreement dated October 1, 2021 (the “Cooperative Agreement”)

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

that was awarded by the DoE for the Demonstration Plant. The Cooperative Agreement provides that up to approximately $43,800 in allowable costs for the Demonstration Plant would be funded on a cost-share basis, 50% by the DoE and 50% by a non-federal entity.

On November 30, 2021, the Company and General Atomics entered into a Cost Share Funding Assumption Agreement (the “Cost Share Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to assume and pay for certain costs incurred by, and on behalf of, General Atomics and the consortium of companies for the design, construction, and operation of the Demonstration Plant near the Bear Lodge REE Project in Upton, Wyoming.

Pursuant to the terms of the Cost Share Agreement, the Company has made payments to General Atomics, as leader of the consortium, totaling $13,700 through September 30, 2023, for Company-assumed costs for the Demonstration Plant, with the number and amount of additional payments to be subject to the mutual written agreement of the parties.

The term of the Cost Share Agreement will continue until the date of completion of the Demonstration Plant project, unless terminated earlier by either party. Either party may terminate the Cost Share Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other party if any of the following events occurs: (a) the Cooperative Agreement is terminated for any reason prior to the completion of the Demonstration Plant project; (b) the other party commits a material breach of its obligations under the Cost Share Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 30 days; or (c) the other party makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy, is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt, or commences any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings. Upon any early termination of the Cost Share Agreement, the Company must pay for all costs incurred by or on behalf of General Atomics to wind down the Demonstration Plant project other than any allowable costs for such wind-down paid for by the DoE.

The following table summarizes transactions under the Cost Share Agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


Balance of funds paid under the Cost Share Agreement at December 31, 2022	$	6,700
Funds transferred to General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		7,000
Company's share of Demonstration Plant project costs incurred through September 30, 2023		(10,457)
Balance of funds remaining on deposit as a prepaid expense with General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	3,243

The following table summarizes related party receivables due from General Atomics for reimbursable costs incurred by the Company under the Cost Share Agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at December 31, 2022	$	174
Reimbursable costs incurred by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		999
Reimbursements received from General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		(805)
Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	368

In October 2023, the Company received $282 from General Atomics for amounts owing under the Cost Share Agreement at September 30, 2023.

5. LEASES

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842 – Leases. This accounting standard requires all lessees to record the impact of leasing contracts on the balance sheet as a right to use asset and corresponding liability. This is measured by taking the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term and recording a right to use asset and corresponding lease obligation for lease payments. Rent expense is realized on a straight-line basis and the lease obligation is amortized based on the effective interest method. The amounts recognized reflect the present value of the remaining lease payments for all leases that have a lease term greater than 12 months. The discount rate used is an estimate of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate based on information available at lease commencement in determining the present value of lease payments.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

In considering the lease asset value, the Company considers fixed or variable payment terms, prepayments, and options to extend, terminate or purchase. Renewal, termination, or purchase options affect the lease term used for determining lease asset value only if the option is reasonably certain to be exercised.

Effective September 21, 2021, the Company entered into a lease agreement for real property, including land and buildings in Upton, Wyoming for the Demonstration Plant. The lease is a 12-month lease with annual renewals at the option of the Company. In June 2023, the lease was renewed, extending the termination date to September 30, 2024. The agreement, which is classified as an operating lease, generally provides for base rent, and requires the Company to pay all insurance, personal property taxes on any structure or improvements made by the Company and other maintenance costs. The lease agreement provides for an annual cost of living adjustment, but contains no residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. For purposes of the following table, payments under the lease are assumed to run through September 30, 2025, the end of the lease renewal period most closely following the completion of Demonstration Plant operations. If the completion of the Demonstration Plant operations extends past September 2025, the Company may extend the lease term accordingly.

Total future lease payments as of September 30, 2023 are as follows:


Remainder of 2023	$	32
2024		128
2025		96
Total lease payments		256
Less interest		(27)
Present value of lease payments	$	229

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $70 was included in operating cash flows for amounts paid for operating leases.

As of September 30, 2023 the weighted average lease term for the Company’s one operating lease was 2.0 years (including renewal options) and the weighted average discount rate was estimated at 12%.

6. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Stock-based compensation

As of September 30, 2023, the Company had 3,580,000 issued and outstanding stock options that were issued under the 10% Rolling Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (the “2011 Plan”) and 1,270,000 issued and outstanding stock options that were issued under its 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”).

The 2011 Plan was replaced in 2022 by the 2022 Plan and, as such, no additional stock options can be granted under the 2011 Plan. Under the 2011 Plan, our Board of Directors could from time-to-time grant stock options to eligible directors, officers, employees, and consultants. The maximum term of any stock option grant under the 2011 Plan was 10 years.

Under the 2022 Plan, as approved by our shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders on August 23, 2022, our Board of Directors is authorized to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance stock units and other cash and share-based awards to eligible directors, officers, employees, or consultants up to a maximum of 17,236,689 common shares. The maximum term of any grant under the 2022 Plan is 10 years.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

The Company estimates the fair value of its stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and the closing price of our common shares on the business day prior to the grant date. The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the 1,020,000 and 1,830,000 stock options awards granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, were as follows:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022
Risk-free interest rate	1.54	%	1.71	%
Expected volatility	123	%	135-144	%
Expected dividend yield	Nil		Nil
Expected term in years	8		8

The following table summarizes our stock option activity for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
		Weighted			Weighted
		Average			Average
	Number of Stock	Exercise		Number of Stock	Exercise
	Options	Price		Options	Price
Outstanding, beginning of period	4,160,000	$	1.26	2,180,000	$	1.18
Granted	1,020,000	$	0.38	1,830,000	$	1.40
Exercised	(330,000)	$	0.07	—	$	—
Outstanding, end of period	4,850,000	$	1.15	4,010,000	$	1.28

Exercisable, end of period	4,006,250	$	1.29	2,605,000	$	1.08
Non-vested, end of period	843,750	$	0.48	1,405,000	$	1.65

The 330,000 options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, resulted in the issuance of 295,000 common shares on a net settlement basis.

The following table summarizes the intrinsic value and weighted average remaining life for stock options as of September 30, 2023:


			Weighted
			Average
			Remaining
As of September 30, 2023:		Intrinsic Value	Life (Years)
Stock options outstanding	$	204	7.1
Stock options exercisable	$	138	6.7
Stock options non-vested	$	66	9.1

Stock-based compensation expense is included in corporate administration expenses within the Company’s interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized compensation expense related to stock option awards of $71 and $452, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized compensation expense related to stock option awards of $402 and $2,480, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $127 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the 843,750 unvested stock options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining vesting period of approximately one year.

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $0.35.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Our commitments and contingencies include the following items:

Potential environmental contingency

The Company’s exploration and development activities and its planned Demonstration Plant are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are regularly changing and generally have become more restrictive. The Company conducts its operations to protect public health and the environment and believes that its operations are materially in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Company has made, and expects to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. The ultimate amount of reclamation and other future site-restoration costs to be incurred for existing mining interests is uncertain.

Contract commitment – related party

Pursuant to the Cost Share Agreement between the Company and General Atomics and as discussed more fully in Note 4, the Company has agreed to assume and pay for approximately one-half of the costs incurred by General Atomics and the other consortium members for the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of the Demonstration Plant.

Asset purchase agreement

On October 25, 2021, the Company and Whitelaw Creek LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company (“Whitelaw Creek”), entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the previously announced asset purchase agreement dated October 20, 2016 between the Company and Whitelaw Creek (the “APA”). The Amendment modified certain provisions of the APA related to the terms and conditions of the Company’s option to repurchase (the “Repurchase Option”) approximately 640 acres of non-core real property located in Crook County, Wyoming, that is under consideration for a stockpile facility for the Bear Lodge REE Project. Pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Amendment, among other things, the term of the Repurchase Option (which was to expire on October 26, 2021) was extended for up to three additional years, subject to annual option extension payments from the Company to Whitelaw Creek of $25 in cash per year (each, a “Repurchase Option Extension Payment”); and the exercise price of the Repurchase Option was increased from $1,000 to a price to be determined by a mutually agreed upon real estate appraiser (the “Repurchase Price”), provided that (i) the Repurchase Price must not be less than $1,200 or greater than $1,850 and (ii) any Repurchase Option Extension Payments paid by the Company to Whitelaw Creek must be credited toward the Company’s payment of the Repurchase Price if the Repurchase Option is later exercised. In October 2023, the Company made the $25 Repurchase Option Extension Payment to Whitelaw Creek to extend the term of the Repurchase Option through October 26, 2024.

Wyoming Energy Authority grant

In June 2023, the Company, and the Wyoming Energy Authority (the “WEA”) entered into a Funding Agreement (the “Funding Agreement”) pursuant to which the WEA agreed to fund, subject to certain conditions, a $4,400 grant to the Company, the proceeds of which are to be used for the Demonstration Plant. Pursuant to the Funding Agreement, the grant will be paid upon the WEA’s receipt of invoices from the Company detailing its actual expenses relating to the Demonstration Plant (half of which funds will be allocated to two milestone periods during the development process), minus a 10% (or $440) retainer, the payment of which is conditioned upon the WEA’s receipt following the commencement of the Demonstration Plant’s operations of an invoice and the Company’s final executive summary report in a form to be approved by the WEA. Pursuant to the Funding Agreement, the funding for the Demonstration Plant will be provided to the WEA from the Energy Resources Council (the “ERC”) and is further conditioned upon the availability of government funds that are appropriated or allocated for the payment of the grant and which may be limited for any reason, including congressional, legislative, gubernatorial, or administration action.

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RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2023

(all amounts stated in thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

The Funding Agreement will terminate when the funding has been fully disbursed, but no later than December 31, 2025, unless terminated sooner by either party in accordance with the terms of the Funding Agreement. The Funding Agreement may be terminated by either party if the WEA does not receive the requested funding from the ERC, if the grant funds are not allocated or available for the continued performance of the Funding Agreement, or by the WEA immediately for cause if the Company fails to perform in accordance with the terms of the Funding Agreement.

As of September 30, 2023, no funds had been received by the Company under the WEA grant, and no amounts related to the grant have been included in the Company’s financial statements. Any future recognition of this grant in the Company’s financial statements will occur with the achievement of the grant’s milestones.

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

None.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following management’s discussion and analysis of the consolidated financial results and condition of Rare Element Resources Ltd. (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Rare Element” or the “Company”) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, has been prepared based on information available to us as of November 8, 2023. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included herewith and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Rare Element for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes thereto filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth elsewhere in this report. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

All currency amounts are expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Overview and Outlook

Our primary focus has been and continues to be the engineering, permitting, licensing, construction, and operation of a demonstration-scale REE processing and separation plant (the “Demonstration Plant”) at the planned location in Upton, Wyoming. If successful, this Demonstration Plant will show that our propriety extraction technology is able to process and separate certain REEs from sample materials extracted from our Bear Lodge REE Project in a more efficient and economical manner than traditional processing methods and will serve as a precursor to inform the design and estimated cost for a future full-scale production facility.

During 2023, the Company, along with the other consortium members, continued their work on the Demonstration Plant, and this work is expected to continue through the project’s expected completion date in the early part of 2025. In December 2022, the Demonstration Plant achieved its final engineering design milestone marking the completion of the DoE’s first go/no-go decision point. The completion of this milestone was a gating event for the DoE’s continued funding of the project as provided for in the 2021 award grant. Future gating milestones include the expected completion of permitting activities in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the completion of the Demonstration Plant’s construction thereafter. Operations to process and separate the REE from the stockpiled sample are expected to follow the completion of the Demonstration Plant’s construction for an additional eight-to-ten-month period.

In June 2023, the Company entered into the Funding Agreement for its previously announced award of a $4,400 grant from the WEA to be used toward the advancement of the Demonstration Plant. This award, along with the funds remaining from the Company’s December 2021 rights offering, is being used to fund the Company’s fifty percent (50%) share of the Demonstration Plant’s originally budgeted cost of approximately $43,800 with the other fifty percent of the funding coming from the DoE. Through September 30, 2023, the Company had paid a total of $13,700 toward its share of the expected cost of the Demonstration Plant (see Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a more complete discussion).

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Current External Factors Impacting our Business

We continued to monitor the general U.S. political climate and actions taken by the U.S. government to secure a domestic, rare earth supply chain. The U.S. federal government issued two Presidential Executive Orders in 2017 to encourage and support the establishment of a domestic rare earth supply chain and to strengthen the defense industrial base with respect to critical minerals, including rare earths. In June 2019, the Department of Commerce released its report entitled “Federal strategy to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals.” This was followed by five U.S. Presidential Determinations on July 22, 2019, directed to the Secretary of Defense. One Presidential Determination declared that “the domestic production capability for Rare Earth Metals and Alloys is essential to the national defense.” These initiatives have increased the federal government’s level of interest in the rare earth industry and our potential rare earth products as a critical upstream segment of the supply chain, particularly considering China’s dominance in the global rare earth market.

In addition, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other external influences (such as the Russia/Ukraine war) have further focused the U.S. government on the importance of implementing secure domestic supply chains, including for rare earths. In February 2021, a Presidential Executive Order called for an expedited 100-day review to address the strengthening of America’s supply chains, specifically requiring the Department of Defense (“DoD”) to (i) submit a report identifying “risks in the supply chain of critical minerals and other strategic materials including rare earth elements” and (ii) make policy recommendations to address the risks. The 100-day review led to another Executive Order on June 8, 2021, calling for an investment in sustainable domestic and international production and processing of critical minerals, including a recommendation that Congress take actions to recapitalize and restore the National Defense Stockpile of critical minerals and materials. In February 2023, a Presidential Waiver of Statutory Requirements Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, on DoD Supply Chains Resilience was declared to avert shortfalls in critical DoD supply chains that would severely impair national defense capability, specifically for defense organic industrial base supply chains critical to the DoD and critical supply chains for electronics, kinetic capabilities, castings and forgings, minerals and materials, and power and energy storage. The Company monitors and participates in these initiatives as they are critical to the production of rare earth magnets to support the manufacturing of, among other things, defense technologies, electric vehicles, wind turbines, consumer electronics, and oil refining equipment.

Results of Operations

Summary

For the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023, we experienced net losses of $3,126 ($0.01 per share) and $8,092 ($0.04 per share), respectively, compared with net losses of $1,705 ($0.01 per share) and $6,527 ($0.03 per share) for the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022, respectively. See our discussion below for the primary drivers of this change. As an exploration stage company, we had no properties in production and generated no revenues during either period.

Exploration and evaluation

Our exploration and evaluation costs increased by $1,738 over the comparative three-month period, rising from $770 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 to $2,508 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, and by $3,916 over the comparative nine-month period, rising from $2,267 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 to $6,183 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. These increases were largely attributable to the activities associated with our Bear Lodge REE Project and the Demonstration Plant as work progressed under the Cost Share Agreement. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of this Cost Share Agreement.

Corporate administration

Our corporate administrative costs decreased by $256 over the comparative three-month period, falling from $902 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 to $646 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, and by $2,040 over the comparative nine-month period, falling from $4,041 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 to $2,001 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. These decreases were largely driven by the decreases in our stock-based compensation of $381 and $2,078 over the comparative three- and nine-month periods, respectively.

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Interest Income

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company generated interest income of $130 and $78, respectively, and $391 and $100 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from investments of the remaining proceeds from its December 2021 rights offering. These increases from period-to-period were primarily the result of the substantially higher short-term interest rates that existed during 2023, partially offset by the lower average cash balances available for investment during the three- and nine- month periods ended September 30, 2023.

Accretion expense

We recorded accretion expense of $70 and $71 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 and $212 and $213 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, in each case related to the Company’s option to repurchase approximately 640 acres of non-core real property in Wyoming for not less than $1,200 nor greater than $1,850 in the form of cash, or a combination of cash and common shares of the Company. Accretion expense is recorded each reporting period to increase the repurchase option liability to the maximum exercise price of $1,850, less any annual option payments of $25. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the repurchase option.

Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities increased by $2,624, rising to $8,766 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 from $6,142 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This change was largely attributable to the $2,800 increase in cash advances paid under the Cost Share Agreement during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities of $4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 resulted from a $12 sale of non-essential equipment, offset by a $16 purchase of equipment. There were no similar transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities of $23 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 stemmed from the exercise of 330,000 stock options. There were no similar transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources

At September 30, 2023, we had a working capital balance of $10,118 which represented a decrease of $7,510 from our December 31, 2022 working capital balance of $17,628. This decrease was largely the result of amounts paid by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 under the Cost Share Agreement and for the payment of other ongoing expenses.

In June 2023, the Company entered into the Funding Agreement for its previously announced award of a $4,400 grant from the WEA to be used toward the advancement of the Demonstration Plant. The WEA grant is a cost-reimbursement award that will be available to the Company for the reimbursement of future Demonstration Plant expenses. As of September 30, 2023, no amount of the $4,400 award had been received by the Company and no amounts related to this grant have been included in the Company’s September 30, 2023 financial statements. The Company may be able to claim a portion of the $4,400 grant during the fourth quarter of 2023 as discussed in Note 7.

Inclusive of amounts already advanced of $13,700 through September 30, 2023, the Company’s share of the total costs under the Cost Share Agreement are expected to exceed $22,000 over the life of the Demonstration Plant project. As a result, the project team has commenced discussions with the DoE and other government agencies regarding further cost-sharing opportunities to offset the increase in the anticipated project budget and further project objectives. At this time, the Company has sufficient funding to complete construction

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of the Demonstration Plant; however, even with the completion of the 2021 rights offering and expected receipt of the WEA grant monies, the Company may not have sufficient funds to operate the Demonstration Plant for a sufficient period to obtain the information to support a commercialization decision. Further, the Company does not have sufficient funds to progress other activities, including with respect to (i) any potential funds for continuation of the Demonstration Plant’s operation to achieve further objectives beyond the current program objectives; and (ii) funds for any feasibility studies, permitting, licensing, development, and construction related to the Bear Lodge REE Project. Therefore, the achievement of these activities will be dependent upon the receipt of additional funds through financings, off-take agreements, joint ventures, strategic transactions, financial awards, or grants. We plan to seek additional funding no later than the end of the first quarter of 2024; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in completing a financing. Ultimately, in the event the Company cannot secure additional financial resources, or complete a strategic transaction in a timely manner, the Company may need to curtail or suspend its operational plans regarding the Demonstration Plant or other initiatives, or potentially liquidate its business interests, and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

Contractual Obligations

There were no material changes to the contractual obligations disclosed in Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of, and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Controls

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2023, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are not aware of any material pending or threatened litigation or of any proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities that are, or would be, likely to have a material adverse effect upon us or our operations, taken as a whole.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

During the three months ended September 30, 2023 there were no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

We consider health, safety, and environmental stewardship to be a core value for Rare Element Resources.

Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose in their periodic reports filed with the SEC information regarding specified health and safety violations, orders and citations, related assessments and legal actions, and mining-related fatalities under the regulation of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”). During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company was not subject to regulation by MSHA under the Mine Act.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number		Description
31.1+		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
31.2+		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
32.1++		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2++		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS+		Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH+		XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL+		XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF+		XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB+		XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE+		XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).

+	Filed herewith.

++	Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	RARE ELEMENT RESOURCES LTD.


	By:	/s/ Brent D. Berg
		Brent D. Berg
		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
		(Principal Executive Officer)

	Date:	November 8, 2023

	By:	/s/ Wayne E. Rich
		Wayne E. Rich
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

	Date:	November 8, 2023

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Brent Berg, certify that:

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Rare Element Resources Ltd.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Brent Berg

Date: November 8, 2023

Brent Berg

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Wayne Rich, certify that:

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Rare Element Resources Ltd.;

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 8, 2023

/s/ Wayne Rich

Wayne Rich

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code), the undersigned officer of Rare Element Resources Ltd. (the “Company”) does hereby certify, based on my knowledge, with respect to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2023 (the “Report”) that:

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Brent Berg

Date: November 8, 2023

Brent Berg

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code). It shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78r) or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. It shall also not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Wayne Rich

Date: November 8, 2023

Wayne Rich

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 06, 2023
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Entity File Number	001-34852
Entity Registrant Name	Rare Element Resources Ltd
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	A1
Entity Tax Identification Number	00-0000000
Entity Address, Address Line One	P.O. Box 271049
Entity Address, City or Town	Littleton
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80127
City Area Code	720
Local Phone Number	278-2460
Title of 12(b) Security	None
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		212,858,451
Entity Central Index Key	0001419806
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Amendment Flag	false

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,593,000	$ 15,523,000
Due from related party (Note 4)	368,000	174,000
Prepaid to related party (Note 4)	3,243,000	2,142,000
Prepaid expenses and other	263,000	140,000
Total Current Assets	10,467,000	17,979,000
Equipment, net	30,000	15,000
Restricted cash	183,000
Right of use asset (Note 5)	205,000	273,000
Investment in land (Note 7)	600,000	600,000
Total Assets	11,485,000	18,867,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	221,000	227,000
Lease liability, current (Note 5)	128,000	124,000
Total Current Liabilities	349,000	351,000
Reclamation obligation	182,000	132,000
Lease liability, long-term (Note 5)	101,000	168,000
Repurchase option (Note 7)	1,493,000	1,281,000
Other long-term liabilities	92,000
Total Liabilities	2,217,000	1,932,000
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common shares, no par value - unlimited shares authorized; shares outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 of 212,808,451 and 212,515,951, respectively	136,929,000	136,906,000
Additional paid in capital	29,075,000	28,673,000
Accumulated deficit	(156,736,000)	(148,644,000)
Total Shareholders' Equity	9,268,000	16,935,000
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$ 11,485,000	$ 18,867,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Common shares, par value	$ 0	$ 0
Common shares, authorized	Unlimited	Unlimited
Common shares, outstanding	212,808,451	212,515,951

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Operating expenses:
Exploration and evaluation (See Note 4 for related party costs)	$ (2,508)	$ (770)	$ (6,183)	$ (2,267)
Corporate administration	(646)	(902)	(2,001)	(4,041)
Depreciation and amortization	(25)	(25)	(76)	(75)
Total operating expenses	(3,179)	(1,697)	(8,260)	(6,383)
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income	130	78	391	100
Accretion expense	(70)	(71)	(212)	(213)
Interest expense	(7)	(23)	(23)	(31)
Gain on sale of equipment			12
Other income		8
Total non-operating income (expense)	53	(8)	168	(144)
Net loss	$ (3,126)	$ (1,705)	$ (8,092)	$ (6,527)
LOSS PER SHARE - BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)
LOSS PER SHARE - DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC	212,756,761	212,466,889	212,627,591	212,466,889
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING, DILUTED	212,756,761	212,466,889	212,627,591	212,466,889

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (8,092)	$ (6,527)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation	1	1
Accretion expense	212	213
Right of use asset amortization	75	74
Lease liability	(70)	(62)
Stock-based compensation	402	2,480
Reclamation obligation	50
Other	82	(25)
Total adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities	(7,340)	(3,846)
Changes in working capital:
Due from related party	(194)	(21)
Prepaid expenses and other	(1,227)	(1,622)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(5)	(653)
Net cash used in operating activities	(8,766)	(6,142)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale of equipment	12
Purchase of equipment	(16)
Net cash used in investing activities	(4)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Stock option exercise	23
Net cash provided by financing activities	23
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(8,747)	(6,142)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash- beginning of the period	15,523	24,947
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash- end of the period	$ 6,776	$ 18,805

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Reconciliation of amounts in the Balance Sheet to amounts in the Cash Flow Statement
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,593,000	$ 15,523,000	$ 18,805,000
Restricted cash, long-term	183,000
Total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period	$ 6,776,000	$ 15,523,000	$ 18,805,000	$ 24,947,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Total
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	212,466,889
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 136,906	$ 25,753	$ (139,218)	$ 23,441
Stock-based compensation		2,480		2,480
Net loss			(6,527)	(6,527)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2022	212,466,889
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 136,906	28,233	(145,745)	19,394
Beginning balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2022	212,466,889
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 136,906	27,781	(144,040)	20,647
Stock-based compensation		452		452
Net loss			(1,705)	(1,705)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2022	212,466,889
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 136,906	28,233	(145,745)	19,394
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2022	212,515,951
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 136,906	28,673	(148,644)	$ 16,935
Stock option exercise, shares	295,000			330,000
Stock option exercise, amount	$ 23			$ 23
Stock-based compensation		402		$ 402
Common shares cancelled	(2,500)			0
Net loss			(8,092)	$ (8,092)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2023	212,808,451
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 136,929	29,075	(156,736)	9,268
Beginning balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2023	212,613,451
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 136,913	29,004	(153,610)	12,307
Stock option exercise, shares	195,000
Stock option exercise, amount	$ 16			16
Stock-based compensation		71		71
Net loss			(3,126)	(3,126)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2023	212,808,451
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 136,929	$ 29,075	$ (156,736)	$ 9,268

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

1.	NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Rare Element Resources Ltd. (“we,” “us,” “Rare Element” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, on June 3, 1999.

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION.

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

2. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

Restricted Cash

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

3. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

●

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

●

Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair-value measurement and unobservable.


Fair value at September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	6,368	$	6,368	$	—	$	—

Fair value at December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	5,216	$	5,216	$	—	$	—
U.S. Treasury bills		9,961		9,961		—		—

RELATED PARTY

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

RELATED PARTY

RELATED PARTY

4. RELATED PARTY

Cost Share Agreement with General Atomics

The following table summarizes transactions under the Cost Share Agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


Balance of funds paid under the Cost Share Agreement at December 31, 2022	$	6,700
Funds transferred to General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		7,000
Company's share of Demonstration Plant project costs incurred through September 30, 2023		(10,457)
Balance of funds remaining on deposit as a prepaid expense with General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	3,243


Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at December 31, 2022	$	174
Reimbursable costs incurred by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		999
Reimbursements received from General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		(805)
Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	368

In October 2023, the Company received $282 from General Atomics for amounts owing under the Cost Share Agreement at September 30, 2023.

LEASES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

LEASES

LEASES

5. LEASES

Total future lease payments as of September 30, 2023 are as follows:


Remainder of 2023	$	32
2024		128
2025		96
Total lease payments		256
Less interest		(27)
Present value of lease payments	$	229

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $70 was included in operating cash flows for amounts paid for operating leases.

As of September 30, 2023 the weighted average lease term for the Company’s one operating lease was 2.0 years (including renewal options) and the weighted average discount rate was estimated at 12%.

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

6. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Stock-based compensation


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022
Risk-free interest rate	1.54	%	1.71	%
Expected volatility	123	%	135-144	%
Expected dividend yield	Nil		Nil
Expected term in years	8		8

The following table summarizes our stock option activity for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
		Weighted			Weighted
		Average			Average
	Number of Stock	Exercise		Number of Stock	Exercise
	Options	Price		Options	Price
Outstanding, beginning of period	4,160,000	$	1.26	2,180,000	$	1.18
Granted	1,020,000	$	0.38	1,830,000	$	1.40
Exercised	(330,000)	$	0.07	—	$	—
Outstanding, end of period	4,850,000	$	1.15	4,010,000	$	1.28

Exercisable, end of period	4,006,250	$	1.29	2,605,000	$	1.08
Non-vested, end of period	843,750	$	0.48	1,405,000	$	1.65

The 330,000 options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, resulted in the issuance of 295,000 common shares on a net settlement basis.

The following table summarizes the intrinsic value and weighted average remaining life for stock options as of September 30, 2023:


			Weighted
			Average
			Remaining
As of September 30, 2023:		Intrinsic Value	Life (Years)
Stock options outstanding	$	204	7.1
Stock options exercisable	$	138	6.7
Stock options non-vested	$	66	9.1

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $0.35.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Our commitments and contingencies include the following items:

Potential environmental contingency

Contract commitment – related party

Asset purchase agreement

Wyoming Energy Authority grant

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

None.

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION

Schedule of fair value of financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis


Fair value at September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	6,368	$	6,368	$	—	$	—

Fair value at December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Money market funds	$	5,216	$	5,216	$	—	$	—
U.S. Treasury bills		9,961		9,961		—		—

RELATED PARTY (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

RELATED PARTY

Schedule of related party transactions


Balance of funds paid under the Cost Share Agreement at December 31, 2022	$	6,700
Funds transferred to General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		7,000
Company's share of Demonstration Plant project costs incurred through September 30, 2023		(10,457)
Balance of funds remaining on deposit as a prepaid expense with General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	3,243

Schedule of related party receivables


Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at December 31, 2022	$	174
Reimbursable costs incurred by the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		999
Reimbursements received from General Atomics during the nine months ended September 30, 2023		(805)
Balance of receivables due from General Atomics at September 30, 2023	$	368

LEASES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

LEASES

Schedule of total future minimum lease payments


Remainder of 2023	$	32
2024		128
2025		96
Total lease payments		256
Less interest		(27)
Present value of lease payments	$	229

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Schedule of significant assumptions used to estimate fair value


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022
Risk-free interest rate	1.54	%	1.71	%
Expected volatility	123	%	135-144	%
Expected dividend yield	Nil		Nil
Expected term in years	8		8

Schedule of stock option activity


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
		Weighted			Weighted
		Average			Average
	Number of Stock	Exercise		Number of Stock	Exercise
	Options	Price		Options	Price
Outstanding, beginning of period	4,160,000	$	1.26	2,180,000	$	1.18
Granted	1,020,000	$	0.38	1,830,000	$	1.40
Exercised	(330,000)	$	0.07	—	$	—
Outstanding, end of period	4,850,000	$	1.15	4,010,000	$	1.28

Exercisable, end of period	4,006,250	$	1.29	2,605,000	$	1.08
Non-vested, end of period	843,750	$	0.48	1,405,000	$	1.65

Schedule of intrinsic value and weighted average remaining life for stock options


			Weighted
			Average
			Remaining
As of September 30, 2023:		Intrinsic Value	Life (Years)
Stock options outstanding	$	204	7.1
Stock options exercisable	$	138	6.7
Stock options non-vested	$	66	9.1

NATURE OF OPERATIONS (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
NATURE OF OPERATIONS (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) item	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2021 USD ($)
Nature of Operations
Amount of potential DoE funding					$ 21,900
Percentage of total estimated cost for the project covered by DoE funding	50.00%				50.00%
Rights offering authorized amount				$ 25,400
Amount of initial estimate for the Demonstration Plant					$ 43,800
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,593	$ 18,805	$ 15,523
Cash used in operations	8,766	$ 6,142
Payments for demonstration plant project costs	7,000
Wyoming Energy Authority
Nature of Operations
Grants Receivable	$ 0				$ 4,400
Minimum
Nature of Operations
Additional period for operation processes from samples	8 months
Maximum
Nature of Operations
Additional period for operation processes from samples	10 months
Sundance Gold Project
Nature of Operations
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Number of gold targets \| item	3
Bear Lodge REE Project
Nature of Operations
Ownership interest (as a percent)	100.00%

BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION (Details)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
BASIS OF ACCOUNTING AND PRESENTATION
Restricted cash	$ 183,000

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Fair Value (Details) - Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Money market funds
Assets
Assets fair value	$ 6,368	$ 5,216
U.S. Treasury bills
Assets
Assets fair value		9,961
Level 1 \| Money market funds
Assets
Assets fair value	$ 6,368	5,216
Level 1 \| U.S. Treasury bills
Assets
Assets fair value		$ 9,961

RELATED PARTY (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2021	Sep. 30, 2023
Related Party
Amount of potential DoE funding	$ 21,900
Percentage of total estimated cost for the project covered by DoE funding	50.00%	50.00%
Allowable costs for planned demonstration funded on cost share basis	$ 43,800
Percentage of total cost of the demonstration plant funded by DoE	50.00%
Percentage of total cost of the demonstration plant funded by non federal entity	50.00%
General Atomics
Related Party
Commitment Amount		$ 13,700

RELATED PARTY - Schedule of transactions - General Atomics (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
RELATED PARTY
Balance of funds paid under the Cost Share Agreement at beginning of year	$ 6,700
Funds transferred to General Atomics during the year	7,000
Company's share of Demonstration Plant project costs during the year	(10,457)
Balance of funds remaining on deposit as a prepaid expense with General Atomics at end of year	$ 3,243

RELATED PARTY - Schedule of Related Party Receivables - General Atomics (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Related Party
Beginning balance of receivables due	$ 368	$ 174
Reimbursable costs incurred by the Company during the period		999
Reimbursements received from General Atomics during the period		(805)
Ending balance of receivables due		$ 368
General Atomics
Related Party
Reimbursements received from General Atomics during the period	$ 282

LEASES - (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
LEASES - (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
LEASES
Option to extend	true
Term of contract	12 months
Operating lease payments	$ 70
Weighted average lease term	2 years
Weighted average discount rate	12.00%

LEASES - Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Lease payments
Remainder of 2023	$ 32
2024	128
2025	96
Total lease payments	256
Less interest	(27)
Present value of lease payments	$ 229

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options outstanding	4,850,000	4,010,000	4,850,000	4,010,000	4,160,000	2,180,000
Option granted			1,020,000	1,830,000
Compensation expense for stock option awards	$ 71	$ 452	$ 402	$ 2,480
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 127		$ 127
Unvested stock options	843,750	1,405,000	843,750	1,405,000
Unrecognized compensation cost period of recognition			1 year
Intrinsic Value of Stock options non-vested	$ 66		$ 66
Weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.35
Rights offering authorized amount						$ 25,400
Equity Incentive Plan 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Term of stock option			10 years
Shares issued			1,270,000
Maximum share based awards	17,236,689		17,236,689
10% Rolling Stock Option Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Term of stock option			10 years
Options outstanding	3,580,000		3,580,000
Option granted			0
Percentage of Vesting On Rolling Stock			10.00%

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Fair value assumptions (Details)	9 Months Ended
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Fair value assumptions (Details)	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Risk-free interest rate	1.54%	1.71%
Expected volatility	123.00%
Expected dividend yield
Expected term in years	8 years	8 years
Minimum
Expected volatility		135.00%
Maximum
Expected volatility		144.00%

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Stock option activity (Details)	9 Months Ended
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Stock option activity (Details)	Sep. 30, 2023 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2022 $ / shares shares
Number of Stock Options
Outstanding, beginning of period	4,160,000	2,180,000
Granted	1,020,000	1,830,000
Exercised	(330,000)
Outstanding, end of period	4,850,000	4,010,000
Exercisable, end of period	4,006,250	2,605,000
Non-vested, end of period	843,750	1,405,000
Common shares issued on a net settlement basis	295,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, beginning of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 1.26	$ 1.18
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	0.38	1.40
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	0.07
Outstanding, end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	1.15	1.28
Exercisable, end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	1.29	1.08
Non-vested, end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.48	$ 1.65

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Intrinsic value and weighted average remaining life for stock (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Intrinsic Value of Stock options outstanding	$ 204
Intrinsic Value of Stock options exercisable	138
Intrinsic Value of Stock options non-vested	$ 66
Weighted Average Remaining life (Years) of Stock options outstanding	7 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted Average Remaining life (Years) of Stock options exercisable	6 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted Average Remaining life (Years) of Stock options non-vested	9 years 1 month 6 days

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Thousands	Oct. 25, 2021 USD ($) a	Oct. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023	Oct. 01, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of total estimated cost for the project covered by DoE funding			50.00%	50.00%
Amendment to Whitelaw Creek Asset Purchase Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies
Area of non core property \| a	640
Repurchase of option extension term	3 years
Repurchase of option extension payment per annum	$ 25
Exercise price of repurchase option	1,000
Payments for repurchase option extension		$ 25
Amendment to Whitelaw Creek Asset Purchase Agreement \| Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies
Exercise price of repurchase option	1,850
Amendment to Whitelaw Creek Asset Purchase Agreement \| Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Exercise price of repurchase option	$ 1,200

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Wyoming Energy Authority grant (Details) - Wyoming Energy Authority [Member] $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2023 USD ($) Milestone	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2021 USD ($)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Grants receivable		$ 0	$ 4,400
Proceeds from grant		$ 0
Funding Agreement
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Grants receivable	$ 4,400
Number of milestones during development process \| Milestone	2
Percentage of actual expenses	10.00%
Retainer amount	$ 440