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Canada Nickel Secures $500K from Ontario to Advance NetZero Nickel Processing Facility near Timmins

Jan 15, 2025


By Kevin Vincent

Canada Nickel Company Inc. has been awarded $500,000 from the Government of Ontario’s Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) to support the development of its NetZero Metals Inc. nickel processing facility near the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project, north of Timmins. The project aims to revolutionize nickel processing by leveraging biochar, a renewable, locally sourced reductant, to replace conventional coal-based materials like coke and anthracite.

Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel, highlighted the significance of the investment, stating, “This commitment highlights the province’s leadership in fostering innovation and advancing clean technology solutions. By supporting our efforts to develop a low-cost, low-carbon nickel processing facility, Ontario is strengthening the foundation for a sustainable battery metal supply chain that will drive economic growth and contribute to the global energy transition.”

Transformative Impact

The facility is expected to produce more than 75,000 tonnes of nickel annually once fully operational, making it a critical component of Ontario’s emerging battery metal supply chain. The plant will process nickel concentrate from Crawford and third-party feeds, converting them into essential nickel and nickel-cobalt products for southern Ontario’s battery plants.

Mike Cox, CEO of NetZero Metals, emphasized the innovative nature of the project, “The NetZero Metals Inc. facility represents a first-of-its-kind approach in the Western world to use biochar-based reductants in pyrometallurgical nickel processing. This innovation not only addresses the growing demand for low-carbon battery metals but also reinforces Ontario’s position as a leader in clean and sustainable resource development.”

Strategic Collaboration

Canada Nickel is partnering with Kingston Process Metallurgy to advance and validate its process design through lab and pilot-scale metallurgical testing. The CMIF funding will be instrumental in this phase, helping to refine the use of Ontario-produced biochar as a sustainable alternative in nickel processing.

George Pirie, Ontario’s Minister of Mines, underscored the broader importance of this initiative, saying, “As our economy grows with an increased need for critical minerals, our government is strengthening a made-in-Ontario supply chain, ready to fuel the technologies of tomorrow. Companies like Canada Nickel, and others working on Critical Minerals Innovation Fund projects, showcase our province’s unique talent and potential to build a competitive critical minerals industry.”

About Canada Nickel

Canada Nickel Company Inc. is a leader in advancing the next generation of nickel-sulphide projects, catering to the rapidly expanding electric vehicle and stainless steel markets. Anchored by the 100% owned Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project in the Timmins-Cochrane mining camp, the company is committed to delivering net-zero carbon nickel, cobalt, and iron products, with trademarks secured under NetZero Nickel™, NetZero Cobalt™, and NetZero Iron™.

This funding and collaboration with Ontario position Canada Nickel as a pivotal player in creating a sustainable future for the province and the global energy transition.



Tags: Northern Ontario / Government / Battery Metals / All Articles