TORONTO, ONTARIO – July 31, 2026 – Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSXV: NOB) (OTCQB: NLPXF) congratulates Canada Nickel Company Inc. on receiving a positive Decision Statement from the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature for the Crawford Nickel Project. This approval marks the first mining project to be authorized under Canada’s amended Impact Assessment Act since 2019, signaling a significant shift in federal environmental review processes.
The Crawford Nickel Project, which was originally held by Noble until 2019, is projected to contribute approximately $70 billion to Canada’s GDP and support around 185,000 person-years of employment. The project was transferred to Canada Nickel as part of a transaction that created the publicly listed company and distributed shares to Noble’s shareholders. Noble retains a stake in Canada Nickel and holds a 20% interest in East Timmins Nickel Ltd., a joint venture with Canada Nickel.
Noble CEO Vance White emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “This development confirms the Company’s vision in having transferred the Crawford Nickel Project to the team at Canada Nickel in 2019, and as a company we are proud to see Canada Nickel advance through this milestone. This is an extremely important development. It should also serve as a model for the development of other properties held by East Timmins Nickel Ltd.”
The approval is notable not only for its economic implications but also for its procedural significance. The project was referred to Canada’s Major Projects Office and selected as one of the first to advance under Ontario’s One Project, One Process framework, which aims to streamline provincial and federal environmental assessments. This coordinated approach could reduce regulatory duplication and accelerate the approval of major resource projects in Canada.
For Noble, this milestone underscores the value of its strategic decisions. The company holds extensive mineral rights across Northern Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland, including the Holdsworth gold property near Wawa, Ontario, and a 20% interest in East Timmins Nickel. Noble continues to explore its ~70,000 hectares in Northern Ontario and ~14,000 hectares elsewhere, with plans for option and joint venture programs.
The positive Decision Statement for Crawford Nickel is expected to have ripple effects across the mining industry, potentially encouraging further investment in Canadian nickel projects, which are critical for electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies. As the first approval under the amended act, it sets a precedent for how future mining projects may be assessed.
Noble’s shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “NOB.” More information about Noble’s projects is available on its website.
