Canada Nickel: Historic $20M First Nations Investment Powers Crawford Project Forward

• Canada Nickel is advancing the Crawford nickel sulfide project towards a construction decision in 2025 and unlocking the potential of the Timmins Nickel District, potentially the world's largest nickel sulfide resource
• Canada Nickel has attracted strategic investments from Anglo American, Agnico Eagle, Samsung, and now Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN), a local First Nations group, demonstrating strong support for the project
• TTN is investing $20 million in a convertible debenture, giving them downside protection while also providing equity upside potential as Canada Nickel progresses; this represents the largest ever First Nations investment in a mining project in Canada
• Canada Nickel has filed its Environmental Impact Statement and is on track for permitting approvals within 365 days; strong First Nations support is invaluable for securing final approvals
• In a challenging market environment, Canada Nickel has been able to attract top-tier strategic investors due to the world-class scale of its nickel sulfide project, its favorable infrastructure and location, and its highly experienced management team

Canada Nickel Company (CNC) is working on its flagship Crawford Nickel Sulfide Project, located in the prolific Timmins mining district of Ontario, Canada. It is on track to become one of the world's largest nickel sulfide operations. With a construction decision targeted for 2025, Crawford is poised to help meet the surging global demand for nickel – a critical metal for lithium-ion batteries.

World-Class Nickel Sulfide Asset 

The Crawford deposit boasts an immense resource base, with the potential to emerge as the Western world's single largest nickel sulfide mine. Its sulphide mineralization is highly sought after by battery makers, as it offers superior economics and a lower environmental footprint compared to laterite nickel deposits.

As Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel emphasizes:

"This would be the Western world's largest nickel sulfide operation."

The scale and quality of the Crawford resource makes it a rare and valuable asset in today's market.

Interview with Chief Executive Officer, Mark Selby

Favorable Jurisdiction & Infrastructure 

Situated in the world-renowned Timmins mining camp, Crawford benefits from exceptional regional infrastructure, a skilled local workforce, and a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Ontario has a long history of responsible resource development and offers a stable, low-risk environment for mining projects.

"It's in a jurisdiction where you've got all the infrastructure in place, it's a safe jurisdiction. This is not Panama – no one is going to confiscate this asset, or effectively fiscally confiscate it."

The project's proximity to key infrastructure, including rail, highways, and low-cost hydroelectric power, translates to significantly lower capital intensity compared to more remote nickel projects. This advantageous location enhances both the economic viability and the speed to market for Crawford.

Exceptional Management Team 

Canada Nickel is led by a management team with extensive nickel industry experience, including former executives from Inco, the world's leading nickel producer prior to its acquisition by Vale. The team has a proven track record of successfully advancing projects from early-stage exploration through to production.

"We've had a bunch of us come out of Inco, which was the world's biggest nickel company before China came along. Another big part of the team worked on the Dumont project back at RNC Minerals and took that project from resource stage right through to fully permitted and construction ready."

This depth of experience and expertise has been instrumental in Canada Nickel’s ability to rapidly advance Crawford while navigating complex permitting and financing processes.

Strategic Investor Validation 

In a resounding vote of confidence, Canada Nickel has attracted investments from several prominent mining companies and battery industry players. These include Anglo American, one of the world's largest diversified miners, Agnico Eagle, one of the biggest mining company in Canada, and Samsung SDI, a leading battery manufacturer.

Most recently, Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN), a local First Nations community, made a landmark $20 million investment in Canada Nickel through a convertible debenture. TTN's investment, the largest of its kind by a First Nation group in a Canadian mining project, speaks volumes about the strong local support and social license Crawford enjoys. Selby notes:

"To have a First Nations group, who's using their capital to have a seat at the table, to control decisions around how the mine operates in terms of impact on the environment on their territory, we think is a major step forward and hopefully will be a template that other communities can use in how they interact with mining projects."

Expedited Permitting Process 

Canada Nickel has achieved a major milestone by filing its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which has been accepted by the government. The company is now on a 365-day timeline to receive a yes/no decision on permitting. The overwhelming backing from local communities and First Nations groups like TTN is expected to streamline the permitting process. Selby affirms,

"Having this dramatic emphasis in terms of a 'yes, this is a project that the local First Nations and communities can get 100% behind' – It's invaluable."

The Investment Thesis for Canada Nickel

• Exposure to the high-growth EV and energy storage markets through nickel, a critical battery metal
• World-class nickel sulfide asset with potential to be the largest in the Western world
• Tier 1 mining jurisdiction with strong local support and access to key infrastructure
• Proven management team with deep nickel industry experience and expertise
• Validation from top-tier strategic investors, including major miners and battery makers
• Landmark investment from local First Nations group, significantly de-risking permitting
• Attractive economics with potential for industry-leading cash flows and returns
• Considerable exploration upside in a highly prospective but underexplored nickel district

Macro Thematic Analysis: 

Nickel is a key component in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries, which power most EVs and utility-scale energy storage systems. As governments worldwide set aggressive targets for EV adoption and renewable energy deployment, the need for new, large-scale nickel supplies has become increasingly urgent.

However, the nickel industry faces a looming supply deficit, as years of underinvestment and a lack of new discoveries have left the project pipeline relatively thin. Moreover, not all nickel is created equal when it comes to battery suitability. Class 1 nickel, derived from sulfide deposits, is the preferred feedstock for battery makers due to its higher purity and lower processing costs compared to laterite nickel.

This perfect storm of soaring demand and constrained supply has set the stage for a structural bull market in nickel, particularly for producers of premium Class 1 material. As Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel aptly summarizes,

"In the nickel space, the reality is we're the only large scale project in Canada that's filed an environmental impact statement since 2019. So if we want lots of critical minerals projects, and the government says they do, this is not 2002 when Canada had Inco and Falconbridge and all these big mid-tier multi-commodity companies. They're all gone now."

Against this backdrop, Canada Nickel's Crawford project stands out as a rare and strategically significant asset that is well-positioned to capitalize on the powerful long-term demand drivers underpinning the nickel market.