NexMetals Outlines 2026 Technical Work Programs to Advance Selebi and Selkirk Deposits in Botswana and Accelerates CEO Transition
NexMetals Outlines 2026 Technical Work
Programs to Advance Selebi and Selkirk
Deposits in Botswana and Accelerates CEO
Transition
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2026) -
NexMetals Mining Corp. (TSXV:
NEXM) (NASDAQ: NEXM)
("
NEXM
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to outline the strategy and work
programs for 2026 across the copper-nickel-cobalt-platinum group element sulphide ("
Cu-Ni-Co-PGE
")
Selebi and Selkirk mines in Botswana. Building on the Company's success made in 2025 that expanded
mineralization and advanced technical studies, the Company believes it is well positioned in 2026 to
accelerate resource growth and advance both projects toward future economic assessments. The
Company is also pleased to report that the previously announced leadership transition has been
completed ahead of schedule and Sean Whiteford has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.
The
board of directors would like to formally welcome Sean to his new role and thank Morgan Lekstrom for
his contribution to the successful succession.
Achievements in 2025 – Setting the Foundation for Growth
Secured unencumbered title to the Selebi and Selkirk assets in Botswana following completion of
the Asset Purchase Agreement milestone payment.
Strengthened balance sheet through strategic financings to support exploration, underground
development and technical programs across Selebi and Selkirk.
Advanced the drill program targeting the two kilometre gap between the Selebi Main and Selebi
North deposits.
Advanced surface and underground exploration drilling at the Selebi Main and Selebi North
deposits, expanding the mineralized footprint and improving geological understanding, and
progressed underground development at Selebi North.
Advanced metallurgical flowsheet development, including successful bench scale testing of
blended Selebi Main and Selebi North material, with results demonstrating that a clean, high
grade, saleable separate copper and nickel cobalt concentrates could be produced.
Successfully completed the metallurgical drill program at Selkirk and advanced metallurgical
flowsheet development work.
Drill core resampling program at Selkirk was completed, supporting resource modelling and future
economic studies.
2026 Strategy Highlights – Moving Toward Economic Studies
Selebi Mine
Selebi Main Surface Drilling Program –
borehole electromagnetic ("
BHEM
") surveying and
drilling approximately 30,000 metres at Selebi Main targeting resource expansion.
Selebi North Underground Development –
additional development to establish better drilling
access for future infill drilling required for economic studies.
Metallurgy
–
continue to refine and optimize the metallurgical flowsheet for Selebi Mine material.
Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") Update –
planned completion in H2 2026.
Preliminary Economic Assesment ("PEA") –
planned completion in H2 2026.
Selkirk Mine
Metallurgy –
Continue to progress the metallurgical testing and provide technical basis to support
resource update and future economic studies.
MRE Update –
planned completion in H1 2026.
PEA –
Timing contingent on ongoing technical results.
What to Expect in H1 2026
Initial assay and BHEM results from the surface drilling program targeting the two kilometre gap
potentially linking the Selebi deposits, also known as the Hinge program.
Remaining assay and BHEM results from the Selebi North underground drilling program.
Metallurgical results from ongoing Selkirk flowsheet and locked cycle test work.
Assay results from the Selkirk resampling program.
Assay results from exploration drilling on airborne EM targets and soil sampling programs.
Sean Whiteford, CEO of the Company, commented:
"This year represents an important step
forward for the Company as we move from foundational work into focused, data-driven resource growth
and technical de-risking across Selebi and Selkirk. The success delivered throughout 2025 has
positioned us well for this next phase. I want to sincerely thank Morgan for his contributions to NexMetals.
"With additional drills mobilized and the operational control that comes from owning our rigs, we are
advancing our program efficiently and responsibly. Our 2026 work plan is structured to deliver drilling
results and metallurgical data required to support updated resource estimates and future economic
studies.
We expect a steady flow of technical results throughout the year and believe the work completed
in 2026 will significantly advance the projects and fully establish the scale and opportunity of the Selebi
and Selkirk deposits. We look forward to sharing additional detail on our 2026 programs in due course."
Selebi Main Surface Drilling and BHEM Program
The Company has initiated a resources expansion drilling program supported by BHEM, building on
targets identified from the Hinge drilling program. The program will test both the Main Zone and the
Lower Zone, where historical drilling and BHEM modelling suggest increasing thickness and continuity
down-dip and down plunge toward the north. Drill hole sequencing will be informed by ongoing
geophysical interpretation, allowing the Company to position toward conductive plates as results are
received. The objective is to meaningfully expand the Inferred resource base and provide the geological
data necessary to support an updated MRE planned later in 2026. As drilling progresses, NEXM
expects results to be released on a steady basis throughout the year.
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sharon
Taylor, VP Exploration of the Company, MSc, P.Geo, and a "qualified person" for the purposes of
National Instrument 43-101 and Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K.
About NexMetals Mining Corp.
NexMetals Mining Corp. is a TSX.V and NASDAQ listed mineral exploration and development company
focused on redeveloping the past-producing Selebi and Selkirk copper-nickel-cobalt-platinum group
element mines in Botswana.
NexMetals has confirmed the scale of mineralization is larger than historical
estimates, supported by NI 43-101-compliant resource estimates, with ongoing down-hole geophysics,
drilling, and metallurgical programs aimed at expanding resources and supporting future economic
studies. The Company is led by an experienced management and technical team with a proven track
record in global mineral projects, emphasizing disciplined execution, transparent governance, and long-
term stakeholder value creation.
For further information about NexMetals Mining Corp., please contact:
Sean Whiteford
President and Incoming CEO
Jaclyn Ruptash
V.P., Communications and Investor Relations
1-833-770-4334
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange and its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities
commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information
contained herein.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States
federal securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information") based on expectations, estimates
and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information involves risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and
opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
For the purposes of this release, forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the
implementation of the objectives, goals and future plans of the Company, including expanding
resources and redeveloping the Selebi and Selkirk projects and the intended preparation of initial
economic studies for the projects; the Company's strategy for 2026 at Selebi, including BHEM
surveying and drilling at Selebi Main targeting resource expansion, additional development at Selebi
North to establish better drilling access for future infill drilling required for economic studies,
optimization of the metallurgical flowsheet, and preparation of an updated MRE and a PEA in H2
2026; the Company's strategy for 2026 at Selkirk, including metallurgical testing to support an MRE
update in H1 2026 and the potential preparation and timing of a PEA; expected assay results from
exploration drilling, soil sampling and resampling programs; the Company's expectations that a
clean, high grade, saleable separate copper and nickel cobalt concentrates could be produced at
Selebi; the Company's belief that work completed in 2026 will significantly advance the projects and
fully establish the scale and opportunity of the Selebi and Selkirk deposits; the anticipated impact of
the proposed BHEM program; and the Company's objective of meaningfully expanding its Inferred
resource base. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require the Company to make
certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking
information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from
estimates; the preliminary nature of drilling and metallurgical test results; the ability of exploration
results to predict mineralization; the ability of the Company to implement its drilling, geoscience and
metallurgical work on its properties and work plans generally; prefeasibility or the feasibility of mine
production; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other
project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future;
changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of
projects; the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks
set out in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR
(
www.sec.gov
) and public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
), in each case, under
NEXM's issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in
preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should
not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no
assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280449