Canada Nickel Locks In C$1.5 Billion Komatsu Fleet Deal for Crawford

Canada Nickel Company Inc. has selected Komatsu and its largest Canadian dealer, SMS Equipment Inc., to supply the load-and-haul and support mining fleet for the Crawford Nickel Project. The company expects to purchase more than 300 machines, currently valued at approximately C$1.5 billion, over the project's 40-year life. The selection followed a review of proposals from 4 equipment vendors, with Komatsu chosen for automation and electrification technologies, including DISPATCH fleet management and FrontRunner autonomous haul trucks, which the company says support Crawford's development as a low-carbon, technologically advanced operation. Definitive agreements with SMS Equipment and Komatsu, along with fleet support and previously announced financing arrangements with Taykwa Tagamou Nation, are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.

Company Overview

Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV: CNC | OTCQX: CNIKF) is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to supply nickel for the electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. The company is anchored by its 100%-owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, located in the Timmins-Cochrane nickel district of Ontario. Canada Nickel is pursuing the development of processes to enable the production of net-zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products, and has applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero Nickel, NetZero Cobalt, and NetZero Iron.

Komatsu Selected After 4-Vendor Review

Canada Nickel Company Inc. has selected Komatsu, and Komatsu's largest Canadian dealer, SMS Equipment, to supply the load and haul and associated support mining fleet for the Crawford Nickel Project. The company received comprehensive proposals from 4 equipment vendors and, after evaluating them against a range of criteria, chose Komatsu for its established automation and electrification technologies, which the company positions as consistent with its plans for safe, sustainable, low-carbon production at Crawford.

Chief Executive Officer and Director of Canada Nickel, Mark Selby, framed the selection as a step forward for the project: 

"The selection of Komatsu and SMS Equipment to provide the load and haul mining and support fleet to Crawford marks a major step in the development of this project. I am very excited about the potential value that could be unlocked by applying Komatsu's proven technologies, including DISPATCH for fleet management and FrontRunner for autonomous haul trucks. Komatsu and SMS Equipment also have considerable experience implementing trolley-assisted truck haulage, which significantly reduces diesel fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while facilitating an easy transition to battery-powered electric vehicles which are anticipated to be available when the Company expects to begin production. We expect that SMS Equipment's experience implementing these technologies at other Canadian operations and demonstrated commitment to our project can substantially de-risk the project start-up and ongoing operation. We look forward to continuing to advance Crawford towards a construction decision in 2027."

President and Chief Executive Officer of SMS Equipment, Robin Heard, said: 

"We view Crawford as one of the most important new mining projects in Canada, and we are looking forward to partnering with Canada Nickel's experienced team to execute their vision."

Fleet Scope & Technology

The project is expected to purchase more than 300 machines, valued at approximately C$1.5 billion, over its 40-year life. Komatsu's technology suite includes DISPATCH for fleet management and FrontRunner for autonomous haul trucks, along with trolley-assisted truck haulage experience that reduces diesel fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions while easing a future transition to battery-powered electric vehicles.

Next Steps

Canada Nickel expects to complete negotiations on definitive agreements with SMS Equipment and Komatsu by the first quarter of 2027, alongside fleet support agreements and the previously announced fleet financing arrangements with Taykwa Tagamou Nation.