Noble Mineral Exploration Announces Canada Nickel's Crawford Project Receives Ontario Government Recognition

TORONTO, January 13, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSXV:NOB) (OTCQB: NLPXF) has announced that Canada Nickel's Crawford Nickel Project has been recognized under Ontario’s One Project, One Process framework.

Noble CEO Vance White congratulated Canada Nickel on the announcement, noting the potential developmental progress of the Crawford deposit.

Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX-V: CNC) (OTCQB: CNIKF) announced that the Province of Ontario has formally designated the Crawford Nickel Project as the second project to be advanced under the Province’s One Project, One Process (1P1P) framework. The 1P1P framework aims to streamline Ontario’s permitting and review processes for major mining developments by aligning timelines, responsibilities, and information sharing across provincial ministries. According to Canada Nickel, this designation reflects the advanced state, scale, and strategic importance of the Crawford Nickel Project within Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, stated that the government is working to open the 100% Canadian-owned mine to create 4,000 jobs for Canadian workers. He added that in 2026, the government is working to unlock one of the world’s largest nickel deposits to boost the economy and reduce China’s dominance in critical minerals. The goal is to establish a domestic supply chain that includes the Western world’s largest nickel sulphide mine, a new nickel processing plant, and a downstream alloy production facility.

Canada Nickel Company CEO Mark Selby emphasized the strategic significance of the Crawford Nickel Project for Ontario and the province’s ambition to establish a world-leading, Made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain. Selby added that Crawford is designed to anchor a new low-carbon mining and clean metals manufacturing corridor in Northeastern Ontario, driving long-term economic growth, creating jobs, and ensuring value generation within the province. He also noted that the endorsement from both federal and provincial governments strengthens the company’s commitment to commencing construction by the end of the year and that they look forward to working with the province through its newly announced Critical Minerals Processing Fund.

Canada Nickel has engaged in consultations with the Province of Ontario, affirming that the 1P1P framework will complement existing commitments to Indigenous Nations, environmental stewardship, and regulatory standards. The framework intends to enhance government coordination and efficiency while maintaining high standards for project development and community engagement. The Crawford project is advancing within Canada’s modernized regulatory framework, having submitted an Impact Statement under the amended Impact Assessment Act, 2019, in November 2024.

The milestones, including the 1P1P framework designation and referral to the federal Major Projects Office in November 2025, establish a path to accelerate development responsibly. Crawford is projected to be the largest nickel sulphide project in the western world and among the most economically significant mining developments in Canada. Independent analysis suggests the Project will generate more than $70 billion in GDP over its initial 40+ year mine life, including approximately $67 billion for Ontario, while supporting 1,000 direct and 3,000 indirect and induced jobs. Through its patented In-Process Tailings (IPT) Carbonation technology, Crawford is also expected to store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, positioning it to potentially become one of Canada’s largest carbon storage facilities and the world’s first net-zero carbon nickel mines.

Stephen J. Balch (P.Geo. – Ontario), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel, verified the data disclosed in the news release.

H. Vance White, President Phone: 416-214-2250 Email: info@noblemineralexploration.com

Source: Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.