Canada Nickel Advances Crawford Project with Positive Exploration Results & Key Regulatory Milestone

• Canada Nickel's 2024 regional exploration program delivered a significant new nickel sulphide discovery at the Mann South property and expanded resources at Mann West.
• Drilling of over 117,000 meters across 14 properties in the Timmins Nickel District is set to deliver six additional mineral resource estimates in 2025.
• The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada determined that Crawford's Impact Statement meets requirements, allowing the project to proceed to technical review and public comment.
• Crawford is the only mining project in Canada to reach this permitting stage under the 2019 Impact Assessment Act, highlighting Canada Nickel's commitment to regulatory compliance and engagement.
• Canada Nickel is well-positioned to supply the rapidly growing electric vehicle and stainless steel markets with low-carbon, locally sourced nickel.

Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV:CNC) is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to deliver nickel required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. The company has applied to trademark the terms NetZero NickelTM, NetZero CobaltTM, and NetZero IronTM as it pursues processes to produce net zero carbon nickel, cobalt and iron products. Canada Nickel's flagship Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project is located in the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp. The company's strategy is to provide investors with leverage to rising nickel demand from low political risk jurisdictions.

Exploration Success Across Timmins Nickel District

Canada Nickel reported impressive results from its 2024 regional exploration drilling program, which tested 14 properties within a 100 kilometer radius of Timmins, Ontario. The campaign's highlight was a new nickel sulphide discovery at the Mann South property. Drillhole MAN24-81 intersected 0.24% nickel over 508 meters, confirming the potential for significant mineralization outside of the company's flagship Crawford deposit.

The Mann West target, identified in 2023, continued to demonstrate excellent potential. Drilling expanded mineralization over a strike length of 1.7 kilometers and a width of 600 meters. Multiple holes returned intervals exceeding 0.3% nickel, with MAN24-61 hosting 0.52% nickel over 37.5 meters within a broader 356 meter zone grading 0.28% nickel. The company believes it has completed sufficient drilling for an initial Mann West resource estimate in early 2025.

Additional targets tested in 2024 included Mann Central and Mann North. Multiple drillholes at Mann Central intersected broad zones of >0.2% nickel mineralization, while several holes across all targets returned anomalous platinum group metal values associated with pyroxenite units.

In total, Canada Nickel completed over 117,000 meters of drilling on its regional properties in 2024. Based on the positive results to date, the company expects to deliver maiden mineral resource estimates for six projects in addition to Crawford and Deloro by mid-2025. This aggressive exploration strategy aims to unlock the full potential of the Timmins Nickel District and establish Canada Nickel as a leading North American nickel sulphide developer.

Crawford Project Achieves Permitting Milestone

The Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project marked a significant milestone in December 2024 with the acceptance of its Impact Statement by the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). After a thorough conformity review, the IAAC determined that Crawford's Impact Statement meets the necessary accessibility and formatting requirements and contains sufficient information to proceed to a technical review and public comment period.

The acceptance of the Impact Statement represents a critical step forward for Crawford under Canada's recently strengthened Impact Assessment Act. Introduced in 2019, this legislation governs the permitting of major mining projects, with an emphasis on rigorous environmental and socio-economic assessment, Indigenous engagement, and public participation.

Crawford has the distinction of being the first and only mining project to advance to this stage under the new regulatory regime. This achievement reflects Canada Nickel's commitment to regulatory excellence, transparency, and proactive engagement with Indigenous communities, government, and the public.

As part of the ongoing process, a 60-day public comment period on the summary of Crawford's Impact Statement was launched. During this time, all stakeholders are invited to review and provide feedback on the assessment, with the IAAC hosting information sessions to support informed participation.

Next Steps & Growth Strategy

Looking ahead, Canada Nickel will focus on addressing input received during the Impact Statement public review, while also supporting the IAAC's commencement of a formal technical review of the Project. Pending the successful completion of the impact assessment process, the company would then seek to enter the final licensing phase for mine construction.

In parallel, Canada Nickel will maintain an aggressive exploration effort across its broad portfolio of regional properties. The company firmly believes that the Timmins Nickel District has the potential to emerge as Canada's preeminent nickel mining jurisdiction, supported by its high-grade sulphide endowment, favorable location, and rich mining heritage.

To fully realize this vision, Canada Nickel will continue to leverage the latest geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques to identify and drill test the most prospective targets. This systematic approach, coupled with one of the industry's largest nickel-focused exploration budgets, positions the company for ongoing discovery success.

Key Takeaways

Canada Nickel presents a compelling growth opportunity in the rapidly evolving battery metals space. The company's flagship Crawford Project is advancing through the permitting process and has achieved a significant milestone with the acceptance of its Impact Statement. This positive trajectory, together with a robust regional exploration pipeline, positions Canada Nickel to emerge as one of North America's premier nickel sulphide producers.

The company's focus on developing clean nickel projects in low-risk jurisdictions aligns with the growing imperative for secure, sustainable, and traceable critical mineral supply chains. As global automakers accelerate their electric vehicle rollouts and governments prioritize domestic raw material sourcing, Canada Nickel is strategically positioned to help meet surging nickel demand.

With a top-tier management team, strong institutional backing, and a commitment to industry-leading ESG practices, Canada Nickel offers investors a differentiated vehicle for gaining leverage to the electric vehicle revolution. As the company continues to deliver on its ambitious goals in 2025 and beyond, it warrants close attention from investors seeking exposure to the dynamic battery metals sector.