Star Metro - Core Critical Metals Corp. Applauds Canada Nickel's Milestone Achievements and Highlights Strategic Proximity in Timmins Nickel District

Canada Nickel's Crawford Project, has achieved significant milestones, including its referral to the Government of Canada's Major Projects Office in November 2025 and designation under Ontario's innovative "One Project, One Process" framework on January 13, 2026. These endorsements underscore the project's strategic importance to Canada's critical minerals supply chain, positioning it for a targeted construction decision by the end of 2026 and first production by 2028. Additionally, Canada Nickel has expanded the Timmins region into a district-scale opportunity, with eight resources now delineated containing over 20 million tonnes of nickel, and secured $500,000 in funding from Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund in January 2025 to advance its NetZero Metals initiative.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Canada Nickel's remarkable progress, which not only validates the immense potential of the Timmins Nickel District but also highlights the region's role in supporting global demand for sustainable nickel in electric vehicles and stainless steel," said Deepak Varshney, CEO of Core Critical Metals Corp. "As neighbors in this prolific district, our proximity to Canada Nickel's flagship Crawford and Reid projects positions us uniquely to benefit from the district's momentum and contribute to its growth as a world-class nickel sulphide hub."

Core Critical Metals' Timmins Nickel Project includes a north block of claims adjacent to Canada Nickel's Reid discovery and west on trend with the Crawford discovery, as well as additional claims contiguous to the MacDiarmid Project. This strategic positioning allows the company to leverage regional infrastructure and geological synergies, with ongoing exploration programs aimed at identifying high-potential nickel targets. To-date, Core Critical Metals has completed geophysical surveys, 3D inversion modeling, and drilling, building on acquisitions that expanded its footprint near Canada Nickel's key assets.

These developments align with broader industry trends, where nickel demand is projected to grow significantly through 2026, driven by the electric vehicle boom and renewable energy infrastructure. Core Critical Metals remains committed to responsible exploration and is actively advancing its portfolio to capitalize on these opportunities.

Readers are cautioned that the geology of nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the geology of the Timmins Nickel Project.

The Company wishes to further announce Mr. Adrian Smith tendered his resignation as a director of the Company effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Smith for his contributions and wishes him all the best with his future endeavors.

Qualified person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Deepak Varshney, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About Core Critical Metals Corp.

Core Critical Metals Corp. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality critical metal properties with high-upside and expansion potential.

CORE CRITICAL METALS CORP.

For more information, please call email [email protected] or visit www.xanderresources.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements:

This news release may include "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and are based on a number of estimates and/or assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets, lack of available capital, actual results of exploration activities, environmental risks, future prices of base and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry.

The Company is presently an exploration stage company. Exploration is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks, requires substantial expenditures, and may not result in the discovery of mineral deposits that can be mined profitably. Furthermore, the Company currently has no reserves on any of its properties. As a result, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

References

1. Canada Nickel Company Inc. (2026, January 13). Crawford Nickel Project named under Ontario's One Project, One Process framework. Morningstar. https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20260113to61709/crawford-nickel-project-named-under-ontarios-one-project-one-process-framework

2. Canada Nickel Company Inc. (n.d.). Sustainability. Canada Nickel. https://canadanickel.com/sustainability

3. Discovery Alert. (2026, January). Canada Nickel Crawford Project secures government fast-track development status. Discovery Alert. https://discoveryalert.com.au/critical-minerals-strategy-development-canada-timmins-2026

4. Natural Resources Canada. (2025, November 13). Canada Nickel's Crawford Project referred to the Major Projects Office. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2025/11/canada-nickels-crawford-project-referred-to-the-major-projects-office.html

5. Canadian Mining Journal. (2026, January). Crawford project secures coveted 1P1P status in Ontario. Canadian Mining Journal. https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/canada-nickels-crawford-project-secures-coveted-1p1p-status-in-ontario

6. Canada Nickel Company Inc. (n.d.). News releases archives. Canada Nickel. https://canadanickel.com/news/document-type/news-releases

7. Canada Nickel Company Inc. (2025, May). Canada Nickel Company: Delivering the next generation of nickel. Canada Nickel. https://wp-canadanickel-2025.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/media/2025/05/CNC_InvestorDeck_May-2025-2.pdf

8. Junior Mining Network. (2024, November 26). Canada Nickel achieves major permitting milestone with completion of filing of Impact Statement for Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project. Junior Mining Network. https://www.juniorminingnetwork.com/junior-miner-news/press-releases/2768-tsx-venture/cnc/171127-canada-nickel-achieves-major-permitting-milestone-with-completion-of-filing-of-impact-statement-for-crawford-nickel-sulphide-project.html

9. Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Crawford Nickel Project. Government of Canada. https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/83857?culture=en-CA

SOURCE: Core Critical Metals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

O.Gauthier--SMC