Ev Nickel Reports Strong Pilot-Scale Bioleach Results with over 90% Nickel Extraction and Successful Nickel Sulphate Production
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February 03, 2026 TSX-V: EVNI
EV NICKEL REPORTS STRONG PILOT-SCALE BIOLEACH RESULTS
WITH OVER 90% NICKEL EXTRACTION AND SUCCESSFUL NICKEL
SULPHATE PRODUCTION
• 90.1% Ni and 89.6% Co extraction achieved at day six
• Pilot circuit operated continuously for 11 days, followed by 5 days of batch operation
• >99% recovery of Ni and Co as a mixed hydroxide precipitate (“MHP”) from pregnant leach solution
• Successful precipitated Nickel sulphate (NiSO₄·6H₂O) with a purity of up to 98.2%
• Effective iron removal (>99%) with minimal nickel and cobalt losses
• Magnesium recovered as a saleable by-product
TORONTO, ON – EV NICKEL INC. (TSX-V: EVNI) (“EVNi” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce positive results from a
continuous pilot-scale bioleaching and downstream metals recovery test program conducted on flotation concentrates
from its W4 Nickel Project near Timmins, Ontario (see press releases dated May 2, 2023 and September 26, 2023).
Bioleaching is a processing technology that eliminates the need for expensive smelters, roasters, autoclaves, and acid
plants required for other processing operations. This significantly reduces upfront capital costs and lowers operating
expenses by avoiding high energy consumption, maintenance, and complex materials handling . Traditional processing
requires shipping concentrate long distances to third -party facilitie s whereas , bioleaching can be performed on site ,
reducing transportation costs and allows p roducers to retain the smelting margin rather than paying treatment and
refining charges.
Bioleaching uses naturally occurring bacteria to extract nickel at ambient temperatures and pressures , producing
substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions than the current energy-intensive alternatives avoiding sulfur dioxide
emissions, slag generation, and the high acid consumption.
Bioleaching produces intermediate products such as nickel sulphate and nickel MHP suitable for conversion into battery-
grade materials and creates a more direct and transparent pathway to electric vehicle battery manufacturers. EVNi’s
advances in nickel bioleaching are now demonstrating scalability and reliability, positioning it as a compelling alternative
for future nickel projects.
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“After more than four years of development and testing, the results being reported today demonstrate that EV Nickel is
ready to advance towards a full-scale bioleaching facility at the W4 Project.,” said Paul Davis, Vice President Exploration.
“In addition, the Company is now positioned to work with other project owners to advance bioleaching solutions across
the nickel sector.”
The batch, semi-continuous and bioleaching pilot programs, completed by RPC Metallurgical Services in collaboration with
EPCM Services Ltd. Located in Fredericton, New Brunswick and Oakville, Ontario, repectively, successfully validated the
Company’s flotation–bioleach processing flowsheet and demonstrated high nickel (“Ni”) and cobalt (“Co”) extractions
under continuous operating conditions. In addition, downstream process
In batch and semi -continuous bioleaching testing, Ni extraction of up to 98.9% and Co extraction of up to 98.8% was
achieved. The Ni and Co extraction were nearly complete within four days under semi-continuous conditions at low solids
density with successful large-batch bioleach tests at 5% and 10% solids, achieving ~95% nickel extraction within 10 days .
Results indicate that the process is amenable to 15–20% solids density with estimated continuous retention times of 4–6
days, supporting future scale-up. Bench-scale optimization demonstrated that nutrient requirements can be reduced to
25% of baseline levels without materially impacting bioleach performance. Indigenous bacterial cultures were successfully
scaled up from laboratory volumes to 600 litres, confirming their suitability for larger-scale bioleach operations.
The pilot program utilized blended flotation concentrates grading approximately 6.4% nickel tested in the bioleach
reactors demonstrating robust bacterial activity and confirm the technical viability of scaling the bioleach process to
commercial operations. The Pilot circuit operated continuously for 11 days, followed by 5 days of batch operation
resulting in 90.1% Ni and 89.6% Co extraction at day six of the pilot program displaying a significantly lower acid
consumption than reported for other hydrometallurgical extraction processes.
Comprehensive metals recovery testing was completed on the bioleach pregnant leach solution, including staged
precipitation of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, and magnesium. Results of the metal recovery testing include >99% recovery
of Ni and Co as a mixed hydroxide precipitate (“MHP”), >99% iron removal with minimal Ni and Co losses and successful
precipitation and recovery of magnesium as a saleable by-product. Subsequent process development work demonstrated
that the MHP product can be further refined into battery-grade nickel sulphate (NiSO₄·6H₂O) with a purity of up to 98.2%.
Nickel not captured in the nickel sulphate is not lost and is recycled back into the MHP circuit for future recovery.
development work confirmed the ability to produce high-purity nickel sulphate suitable for battery supply chains.
“The successful completion of this continuous pilot program is a major technical milestone for EV Nickel,” said Paul Davis,
Vice President of Exploration. “Achieving over 90% Ni extraction while also demonstrating a clear pathway to high-purity
nickel sulphate reinforces the strategic value of our Shaw Dome project and its potential to supply responsibly produced
nickel into the electric vehicle market.”
The program findings support the technical viability of EVNi’s flotation-bioleach flowsheet and reinforce the potential for
a low-carbon, environmentally responsible processing route capable of producing battery -relevant Ni and Co products
while recovering magnesium as a potential by-product. Preliminary design criteria were developed for a bioleach circuit
based on processing 800 tonnes per day of W4 nickel ore, providing a foundation for future engineering and economic
studies.
Based on the encouraging pilot results, the Company plans to continue optimization work focused on improving oxygen
transfer efficiency, increasing pulp density, and further refining the nickel sulphate crystallization process. These
enhancements are expected to improve recoveries and reduce capital intensity ahead of future development studies.
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About EV Nickel Inc.
EV Nickel’s mission is to provide the world with clean nickel from Tier 1 jurisdictions. Our projects are located within 30
km of Timmins, a developing hub of clean critical minerals for the North American battery and stainless-steel markets, as
well as an important emerging critical mineral district for North American efforts to bring on -shore the full vertical
integration of electric batteries and vehicles.
EV Nickel aims to play an integral part of the North American on -shoring initiative as the Company’s clean , low carbon
deposits can be an important source of supply to support the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Ontario and Federal policies
and initiatives which strive to bring clean critical mineral production from Canada into the North American supply chain
and globally.
In further support of this initiative, the Company has and will continue to partner with environmentally responsible and
ethical organizations from around the province and around the world to assist in developing these essential critical
minerals. EV Nick el is also eager to collaborate with all stakeholders and leading sustainable engineering, mining,
automotive and battery companies to provide this key input to support global decarbonization initiatives. The
governments of Ontario and Canada are also pro viding significant legislative, policy and financial support to help ensure
that the Timmins region becomes a leading participant in the developing North American supply chain for the clean energy
transition.
Qualified Person
The Company’s Projects are under the direct technical supervision of Paul Davis, P.Geo., and Vice -President of the
Company. Mr. Davis is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical information
in this press release. There are no known factors that could materially affect the reliability of the information verified by
Mr. Davis.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements or information are provided
for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future.
Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-
looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipate", "proposed", "estimates", "would", "expects",
"intends", "plans", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a
number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may
prove to be incorrect. Although EVNi believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or
information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Company
can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in business
plans and strategies, market conditions, share price, best use of available cash, the ability of the Company to raise
sufficient capital to fund its obligations under various contractual arrangements, to maintain its mineral tenures and
concessions in good standing, and to explore and develop its projects and for general working capital purposes, changes
in economic conditions or financial markets, the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration, future prices of
metals and other commodities, environmental challenges and risks, the Company's ability to obtain the necessary
permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop its projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and
consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives, changes in environmental and
other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with such laws and
regulations, dependence on key management personnel, and general competition in the mining industry. These risks, as
well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. The forward-looking information in this press
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release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of EVNi based on information currently available to
the Company. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be
required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.
The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities
Act "), or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons
in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act,
absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Contact Information
For further information, visit www.evnickel.com
Or contact: Paul Davis
E-mail: [email protected]
EV Nickel Inc.
200 – 150 King St. W
Toronto, ON M5H 1J9
www.evnickel.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release.