NetZero Metals Awards Engineering Contracts and Advances Engineering Studies on Two Processing Facilities
NetZero Metals Awards Engineering Contracts and Advances Engineering Studies on
Two Processing Facilities
Highlights
• Key Engineering Contracts Awarded and Work is Underway
o Steel plant design led by SMS group
o Key portions of nickel plant design led by Metso
o Overall study compilation & supporting engineering led by Ausenco
• Feasibility studies for Nickel Processing Facility and Stainless Steel and Alloy Production Facility
near Timmins, Ontario remain on target for year-end
TORONTO, April 17, 2024 – NetZero Metals Inc. ("NetZero Metals" or the "Company") , a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (“Canada Nickel”, TSXV:CNC, OTCQX:CNIKF) today provided an
update on the progress of engineering studies for two processing facilities – a nickel processing facility
and a stainless steel and alloy production facility – in the Timmins Nickel District.
Key engineering contracts for the facilities have been awarded to SMS group (“SMS”), Metso and Ausenco
Engineering Canada ULC (“Ausenco”).
NetZero Metals is advancing design work to develop two processing facilitie s to fill a critical link in the
development of North American critical minerals supply chains and the province’s electric vehicle
strategy. Each production facility is expected to utilize Canada Nickel’s carbon storage capacity at its
Crawford Nickel Project to deliver net zero carbon nickel and stainless steel and alloy production through
capture of the CO2 emissions from the downstream operation . The studies are progressing well and
completion of feasibility studies remains targeted for year-end.
Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel, said, “We are very pleased to work with global engineering leaders like
SMS, Metso, and Ausenco to advance our NetZero Metals processing plants. These processing facilities
will position the Timmins Nickel District and Canada at the forefront of the global transition to greener
energy and materials . We are proud to lead the way in the development of new capacity to meet the
growing demand for the local supply of critical minerals, and most importantly, zero carbon,
environmentally responsible production in North America.”
SMS group, an industry leader in the supply of steel making equipment and plant design , has been
awarded the initial scope for the NetZero Metals stainless steel and alloy plant, which will treat the
Crawford iron-chrome-nickel concentrate and other feeds to produce a blend of stainless steel and alloys.
The target start up date of the steel plant is year-end 2027, aligned with expected first production from
Crawford.
Andy Gribben, VP of Metallurgy Sales at SMS group, said “We are thrilled to have been chosen by NetZero
Metals for such a pivotal role in advancing sustainable nickel and stainless steel production. At SMS group,
we have made it our mission to create a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry. Our metallurgical
know-how and engineering skills combined with our digital expertise and plant technology enables us to
be the leading partner on this project. We look forward to contributing our expertise to this
transformative, environmentally responsible project.”
Metso, an industry leader for the supply of pyrometallurgical process equipment, has been awarded the
key portions of the initial nickel plant scope, which will process the Crawford nickel concentrate as well as
third party feeds to produce a blend of nickel and nickel-cobalt products suitable for the steel and battery
markets. The Company is targeting an early start up of the nickel plant in the first part of 2027 by
leveraging an existing brownfield site for which positive discussions are already underway.
Ausenco, a long term partner of Canada Nickel Company, is performing the overall facility engineering and
packaging of staged engineering studies.
About SMS
SMS group is renowned worldwide for its future -oriented technologies and outstanding service for the
metals industry. The company applies its 150 years of experience and its digital know-how to provide the
industry continuously with innovative products and processes – even beyond its core business – and
generates worldwide sales of around 3.1 billion euros. SMS is the right partner for challenging projects,
and supports its customers throughout the lifecycle of their plants, enabling profitable and resource -
efficient value creation chains. Paving the way for a carbon-neutral and sustainable metals industry is the
company’s stated goal. For more information on SMS group and their portfolio, visit their website
at www.sms-group.us.
About Metso
Metso is a frontrunner in providing sustainable technologies, end -to-end solutions and services for the
aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By helping its customers increase
their productivity, improve their energy and water efficiency and environmental performance with
process and product expertise, Metso is the partner for positive change. Metso’s Fluid Bed business has
been recently engaged to carry out fluid bed testwork and preliminary flowsheet development at its
research and development center in Frankfurt, Germany. Metso has been developing world class fluid bed
roasting applications for the non-ferrous industry since the 1950s.
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global diversified engineering, construction and project management company providing
consulting, project delivery and asset management solutions to the resources, energy and infrastructure
sectors. Ausenco’s experience in mining projects rang es from conceptual, pre -feasibility and feasibility
studies for new project developments to project execution. Ausenco has been supporting Canada Nickel
since 2020 when Ausenco was first engaged to lead the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) for the
Crawford Nickel Sulfide Project. After successfully completing the study, Ausenco continued to support
Canada Nickel through the Feasibility Study, which was released in the fourth quarter of 2023, by
supporting the metallurgical pilot plant program, the process plant and building design and the site water
management design, all while coordinating project consultants. Ausenco is now leading Front End
Engineering and Design activities at Crawford as it advances towards a construction decision in 2025.
About the Nickel Processing Facility
Over three phases, the nickel processing plant is expected to reach a capacity of more than 80,000 tonnes
of nickel annually, which is expected to make it the largest nickel processing facility in North America.
Subject to permitting approvals, the plant plans to begin production by the start of 2027 utilizing third
party feeds. The facility is expected to be further expanded with the startup and expansion of Canada
Nickel’s Crawford project. This plant is expected to utilize proven, low environmental footprint technology
to produce high-quality nickel products, catering to the needs of both the stainless -steel/superalloy and
the electric vehicle markets.
About the Stainless-Steel and Alloy Processing Facility
In addition to the nickel processing plant, a stainless steel and alloy production facility is expected to be
established to process the iron-chrome-nickel concentrate from the Crawford Nickel project and other
feeds to be transformed into more than 1 million tonnes of alloy products, including more than 500,000
tonnes of 304-grade stainless-steel annually. The facility is expected to grow along with the expansion at
Crawford Nickel project and would become the largest stainless -steel production facility i n Canada.
Production is planned to begin by year end 2027, aligning with the planned start-up of the Crawford mine,
subject to permitting approvals. Discussions are currently underway with leading global ferroalloy and
stainless producers to partner on this project.
Qualified Person and Data Verification
Arthur G. Stokreef, P.Eng (ON), Manager of Process Engineering & Geometallurgy and a “qualified person”
as such term is defined by National Instrument 43 -101, has reviewed and approved the technical
information in this news release on behalf of Canada Nickel Company Inc.
About Canada Nickel Company
Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects to deliver nickel
required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Canada Nickel Company has
applied in multiple jurisdictions to trademark the terms NetZero Nickel TM, NetZero Cobalt TM, NetZero
IronTM and is pursuing the development of processes to allow the production of net zero carbon nickel,
cobalt, and iron products. Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel in low political risk
jurisdictions. Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel -Cobalt
Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp. For more information, please
visit www.canadanickel.com.
For further information, please contact:
Mark Selby, CEO
Phone: 647-256-1954
Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note and Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under
applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, the
timing, outcome and completion of study activities including preliminary economic assessments,
feasibility studies and/or front end engineering and design , the outcome of procuring a brownfield site,
the product blend and overall production capacity of NetZero Metals and steel and alloy plants, the timing
of plant start-up and expansions, the viability of either or both of the downstream processing lines
including the nickel and steel and alloy processing lines, the ability to achieve zero carbon production from
the nickel and or steel and alloy plants, the outcomes of the construction decision, the timing of first
production at the Crawford Project , the receipt of permits, the ability to sell marketable materials,
strategic plans, including future exploration and development plans and results, and corporate and
technical objectives. Forward -looking information is necessarily based upon several assumptions that,
while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors
which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such forward -looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others:
future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to
raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property,
environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and
social uncertainties, results of explo ration programs, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining
governmental approvals, and failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. There can be no
assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, reader s should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release
is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and
information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward -looking information, whether because of new info rmation,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.