Canada Nickel Announces Selection of SMS Equipment Inc. and Komatsu for $1.5 billion Load & Haul Fleet Purchase
Canada’s Crawford fleet procurement confirms the execution path toward a 2027 construction decision for the project.
Canada Nickel Company Inc. has selected Komatsu and its Canadian dealer, SMS Equipment Inc., to supply the load, haul, and support mining fleet for its Crawford Nickel Project. The transaction involves the purchase of more than 300 machines with a current estimated value of approximately C$1.5 billion over the 40-year project life.
The selection prioritizes automation, including DISPATCH and FrontRunner systems, and electrification through trolley-assisted haulage to support low-carbon production goals. Definitive agreements with SMS Equipment and Komatsu, along with fleet support agreements, are expected to be completed by Q1 2027. The move aligns with the company's previously announced goal to reach a construction decision in 2027 and de-risk project start-up through proven Canadian operational experience.
Canada Nickel Company Inc. (CNC) has selected a major equipment vendor, a routine but necessary execution milestone following the federal permitting approval received in July 2026. This development confirms the company's capital allocation plan and validates the projected C$2 billion capex required for the Crawford project. The announcement does not introduce new financial terms, unexpected strategic shifts, or changes to the construction timeline, serving as an expected follow-up to the company's ongoing project development and financing efforts.
Canada Nickel Company Inc. is focused on the development of the Crawford Nickel Project, located in the Timmins Nickel District of Ontario, Canada. The project is an open-pit, mine-mill operation targeting nickel, cobalt, PGMs, iron, and chromium.
Current Stage: Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) completed in 2025. Federal and provincial permitting nearly complete, with a final investment decision targeted for 2027.
Resource Base: The Timmins Nickel District hosts over 10.1 million tonnes of Measured & Indicated nickel and 12.5 million tonnes of Inferred nickel across multiple deposits, positioning it as one of the world's largest nickel sulphide districts.
ESG Strategy: The company is pursuing a zero-carbon industrial cluster vision, utilizing proprietary IPT carbonation, a NetCarb partnership, and a DOE-funded in-situ carbon sequestration pilot to permanently store CO2.