Canada Nickel Company (TSXV: CNC) has made a significant leap toward the development of its Crawford Nickel sulphide project near Timmins, Ontario. Recently, the company announced the receipt of a support letter from a major financial institution indicating potential long-term debt financing of up to $500 million.
The new financing offer is incremental to a previous letter of interest Canada Nickel received just a week earlier from Export Development Canada (EDC), which pledged up to US$500 million for the project. These combined letters of interest now represent approximately US$870 million in senior debt—bringing the company significantly closer to securing the funds needed for the project’s construction and initial phase of development.
The Crawford Nickel sulphide project is poised to become a key player in the global nickel market, particularly as the demand for nickel surges due to its role in the production of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Nickel is essential in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, a critical component of the electric mobility and clean energy sectors.
“We are very pleased with this additional indication of interest as it is another substantial step towards advancing our financing package for Crawford.” CEO Mark Selby said, further emphasizing that the funding will enable the company to move closer to starting construction on the project by mid-2025, once permits are secured.
“With last week’s previously announced US$500 million letter of interest from Export Development Canada, along with the refundable critical minerals and carbon capture and storage tax credits in excess of US$600 million that the Company expects to qualify for… the Company is well-positioned with our financial advisors Deutsche Bank, Scotiabank and Cutfield Freeman to secure the remaining project funding,” he added.
The letters of support are not final commitments but rather initial expressions of interest that will require further due diligence. The financial institution’s offer of up to $500 million will be subject to ongoing discussions between Canada Nickel, its financial advisors, and various lenders and their advisors.
This reflects a common process in large-scale industrial projects, where financing packages are finalized only after rigorous financial and environmental reviews, alongside market conditions assessments.
Canada Nickel last traded at $1.04 on the TSX Venture.
Information for this briefing was found via Sedar and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
