Canada Nickel Company (Canada Nickel) has announced a significant agreement with the Mattagami, Matachewan and Flying Post First Nations, members of the Wabun Tribal Council, regarding the Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project.
This agreement is a “significant” advancement in terms of progressing the Crawford Project, while also promoting cooperation with First Nations communities.
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It also establishes an early business and employment opportunities framework as the parties work towards a comprehensive Impact Benefits Agreement (IBA).
The agreement encompasses pledges for transparent negotiations on significant contracting opportunities including the construction of a 25.2km railway line, the relocation of Highway 655 and the development of a temporary overpass on Highway 655.
These initiatives aim to promote economic development and address the priorities of the three First Nations.
Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby said: “This agreement is a milestone in the development of the Crawford Project and reflects our commitment to meaningful partnerships with First Nations and our respect for the Traditional Territories in which we are fortunate to operate.
“We value our ongoing work with Flying Post, Mattagami and Matachewan First Nations, and the collective advocacy efforts of Wabun Tribal Council, and we look forward to building on this foundation to deliver long-term benefits for their membership, our project, and the region writ-large.”
Scheduled between 2025 and 2029, these projects will prioritise First Nations businesses, promote own-source revenue, foster partnerships and support regional growth.
The agreement additionally sets up systems for transparency and cooperation, including regular engagement sessions. A First Nations business representative will also be appointed to coordinate opportunities within the project.
The primary initiatives outlined in the agreement involve giving priority access to businesses owned by First Nations for contract participation, as well as offering specialised training programmes aimed at improving local skills development.
Matachewan First Nation Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse said: “This agreement provides a genuine starting point for addressing the impacts of the Crawford Project on our lands and people. It is a positive step towards ensuring Matachewan First Nation’s members voices are heard and our rights are respected.”
Canada Nickel also announced the results of the front-end engineering and design (FEED) activities for the project, which were completed by the company’s consultants.
The main objective of the FEED was to revise the estimate of the initial capital costs.
Engineering efforts concentrated on the initial capital expenditure, drawing on information gathered from a winter geotechnical programme, a test piling initiative and revised quotations.
The mining schedule was reorganised to expedite the extraction of higher-value ore from the East Zone and decrease pre-stripping by 30%. Another significant alteration was the reorganisation of the mining schedule.
Ore from the East Zone will now be extracted and processed first, advancing by an average of 12 years, while ore from the Main Zone has been postponed.
