Nickel 28 Releases Ramu Q4 and Full Year 2025 Operating Performance
Nickel 28 Releases Ramu Q4 and Full Year
2025 Operating Performance
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2026) - Nickel 28 Capital Corp.
(TSXV: NKL)
(FSE: 3JC0)
("
Nickel 28
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to provide operational results for the quarter
ending December 31, 2025, and for the full calendar year of 2025 for the Company's largest asset; the
Ramu Nickel-Cobalt ("
Ramu
") integrated operation in Papua New Guinea. Nickel 28 currently holds an
8.56% joint-venture interest in Ramu which is operated by the Metallurgical Corporation of China
("
MCC
").
Full Year Q4 2025 Ramu Highlights:
Q4 2025 production of 8,231 tonnes of contained nickel in Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate ("
MHP
"),
compared to 5,952 tonnes in the same period last year.
Full year production of 33,007 tonnes of contained nickel in MHP, compared to 28,669 tonnes last
year.
Q4 2025 production of 777 tonnes and full year production of 3,099 tonnes of contained cobalt in
MHP, compared to 549 tonnes in the same period last year and 2,625 tonnes for the 2024 full
year.
Q4 2025 nickel sales of 8,763 tonnes and full year sales of 32,622 tonnes of contained nickel in
MHP, compared to 5,308 tonnes in the same period last year and 30,523 tonnes for the 2024 full
year.
Q4 2025 cobalt sales of 825 tonnes and full year sales of 3,061 tonnes of contained cobalt in
MHP, compared to 488 tonnes in the same period last year and 2,793 tonnes for the 2024 full
year.
Nickel inventory on hand at quarter end was 1,674 tonnes of nickel in MHP.
LME average nickel price of US$6.75/lb in Q4 2025 and US$6.88/lb for the full year.
This was a
decrease of 7% from the same period last year (US$7.26/lb) and a decrease of 10% from the
2024 average (US$7.63/lb).
Average cobalt price of US$22.48/lb. in Q4 2025 and US$16.07/lb for the full year.
This was an
increase of 126% from the same period last year (US$9.95/lb) and an increase of 43% from the
2024 average (US$11.26/lb).
Production costs, net of by-product credits, were US$4.06/lb. of nickel produced as MHP in Q4
2025, compared to US$4.17/lb in the same period last year. Full year production costs, net of by-
product credits, were US$3.47/lb, compared to US$3.33/lb last year.
2026 Production Guidance:
For the 2026 calendar year the project is targeting production and sales of 33,100 tonnes of
contained nickel and 3,100 tonnes of contained cobalt in MHP.
There are no anticipated shutdowns for the 2026 year, aside from the annual maintenance for the
three HPAL trains.
The project will undertake a full renovation of one of the two sulphuric acid plants; however, the
manager has built tanks to enable the project to purchase sulphuric acid and as a result there will
be no impact on production.
Nickel 28's Chief Executive Officer, Craig Lennon stated:
"It was another solid performance at Ramu,
both in Q4 2025 and for the full 2025 calendar year.
The project continues to demonstrate that it is
one of the most consistent nickel laterite operations currently in production, both through the mine and
the process plant, and is operated by one of the most experienced managers, in MCC.
MCC's desire
for continual improvement have seen them establish a dedicated Ramu Research Institute targeted
with finding project improvements and enhancements, to ensure Ramu is at the forefront of nickel
laterite HPAL operations.
As in prior years, costs were higher in Q4 2025 due to annual project bonuses; however, based on
industry cost curve data, on a full year basis, Ramu continues to rank in the lowest quartile of the cost
curve among nickel laterite HPAL operations. Sulphur prices, a major consumable for the project, are
currently at elevated levels and have impacted operating costs, alongside competitive pricing
tensions from nickel laterite HPAL operations (primarily) in Indonesia.
Cobalt prices have increased significantly in the second half of the 2025 year and going into 2026,
and nickel prices are following suit and increasing from recent lows.
We believe these price
improvements for both cobalt and nickel are largely attributable to policy decisions by the
governments of the DRC and Indonesia, respectively.
Their influence on production of cobalt and
nickel will continue to be a focus for the industry in the near to medium term.
The Indonesian
government's recent quota policies have contributed to tighter global nickel supply and the recent
upward pressure on nickel prices, which have approached the US$18,000/t level.
At these levels,
together with the cobalt by-product credit we achieve at Ramu and the improving payabilities we are
receiving for both nickel and cobalt, we believe the project is capable of generating strong margins.
It is worth noting that Ramu compares well with the newer HPAL plants being developed in Indonesia
in terms of operating costs, mainly because those projects are all built with a similar design to that of
Ramu; however one significant difference to some of the operations in Indonesia is that Ramu is an
integrated mine and process plant and as such is not dependent on a third parties for ore supply."
Ramu's operating performance for the period is presented below along with a comparison to the prior
year.
2024
2025
Q4
Full Yr
Q4
Full Yr
Ore Processed (dry kt)
MHP Produced (dry tonne)
Contained Nickel (tonne)
Contained Cobalt (tonne)
Nickel Capacity Utilization (% of design
1
)
631
14,694
5,952
549
73%
3,214
71,232
28,669
2,625
88%
932
20,326
8,231
777
101%
3,531
80,932
33,007
3,099
101%
MHP Shipped (dry tonne)
Contained Nickel (tonne)
Contained Cobalt (tonne)
12,824
5,308
488
75,557
30,523
2,793
21,681
8,763
825
80,103
32,622
3,061
Production Cost Actual (US$)
(2)
$
4.17
$
3.33
$
4.06
$
3.47
Note 1.
Ramu's design capacity of 32,600 t Ni per year is an annualized benchmark. Quarterly utilization rates may exceed 100% in periods
without maintenance shutdowns or when the operation benefits from incremental process improvements.
Note 2. Actual cost per pound of nickel contained in MHP net of by-product credits
The figures in the table above have not been audited and are subject to change. As Ramu has not yet
finished their local or corporate audit and have not reviewed accounting procedures in respect of the
fiscal quarter; the financial information presented in this press release is preliminary, subject to audit,
final adjustment and may change materially. The information presented above has not been reviewed or
audited by the Company's auditor and should not be considered a substitute for reviewed or audited
financial statements and should not be regarded as a representation by the Company as to the actual
financial results.
About Nickel 28
Nickel 28 Capital Corp. is a nickel-cobalt producer through its 8.56% joint-venture interest in the
producing, long-life Ramu Nickel-Cobalt Operation located in Papua New Guinea. Ramu provides Nickel
28 with significant attributable nickel and cobalt production thereby offering our shareholders direct
exposure to two metals which are critical to the adoption of electric vehicles. In addition, Nickel 28
manages a portfolio of ten nickel and cobalt royalties on development and exploration projects in
Canada, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Scientific and Technical Information
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this news release have been reviewed and approved on
behalf of Nickel 28 by Alan Lambden, P. Geo., an independent consultant to Nickel 28 and a "qualified
person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain information which constitutes 'forward-looking statements' and
forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements
that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may",
"should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar
expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements
and figures with respect to the operational and financial results of the Ramu project; statements with
respect to the prospects of nickel and cobalt in the global electrification of vehicles; statements related to
the repayment of the Company's Ramu operating debt (and the timing thereof); statements related to the
Company's attributable cash flow (and the receipt and timing thereof); and statements with respect to the
business and assets of the Company and its strategy going forward. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the Company's control. Should one or more of the
risks or uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements materialize, or should assumptions
underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements
could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release and, other than
as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this
release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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
or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or
disapproved of the contents of this news release.
Investor Relations Contact Information:
Nickel 28 Investor Relations
Attn: Brett Richards, Director/Advisor
Director Tel: +1 905 449 1500
Email:
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284880