09:03 AM EDT, 10/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Niobay Metals ( NBYCF ) , trading shy of 52 week highs, on Thursday said it has been granted a new exploration permit for the James Bay Niobium Project in Ontario, which will allow the company to resume its drilling campaign there, working to working it with Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN).

A statement noted the drilling campaign was suspended at the request of the MCFN in 2022. Niobay said the new exploration campaign addresses the community's concerns about water management by modifying the drilling pattern to move away from South Bluff Creek.

It added this permit will require a helicopter-borne campaign and strict water and drilling mud management, and noted these requirements were met by the company during the last drilling campaign.

"The geopolitical context has changed significantly over the past two years regarding critical and strategic minerals; we consider that this permit was granted with this in mind, which is to be able to count on Canadian metals to supply our supply chains in the country," said Niobay's CEO Jean-Sebastien David.

"We acknowledge this permit, but we do not intend to conduct the next exploration program without the contribution of members of the local community. Our modus operandi will be the same as for our various projects elsewhere in Canada, namely to involve the local community in the planning and execution of the work. It is a priority for the company to work with the MCFN to advance this exploration work."