Ni-Co Energy Inc. has commenced a two-year research program at its Kremer nickel-copper-cobalt project in Quebec, partnering with the University of Ottawa to study the origins of the property's sulfide mineralization.

Supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Alliance Grant, the study combines industry exploration with academic research. Professor Brian O'Driscoll, Newmont Chair in Economic Geology at the university, leads the initiative alongside post-doctoral researcher Dr. Fiona D'Arcy.

The work focuses on ancient rocks in the Lanaudière region, located approximately 90 kilometres north of Montreal, where intense metamorphism and deformation obscure how the nickel, copper and cobalt deposits originally formed. Researchers will use advanced laboratory and field techniques, including sulfur isotope analysis and electron backscatter diffraction, to investigate sulfide crystallization and trace the source of the sulfur.

Previous exploration at the project included an October 2025 prospecting campaign that collected surface grab samples from the Kremer-2 area containing nickel-copper-cobalt-bearing sulfide mineralization. Ni-Co intends to integrate the findings directly into its ongoing exploration schedule.

“Understanding why Kremer's sulfides are where they are, and how they formed, gives us a sharper, more cost-effective tool for guiding our drill targeting, including at Kremer-2,” said Alain Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of Ni-Co Energy Inc.

Work will take place at the university's Ore Deposit Petrology Laboratory, the Ján Veizer Stable Isotope Laboratory and the Geological Survey of Canada's facilities in Ottawa.

Read the full announcement: University of Ottawa and Ni-Co Energy Begin Kremer Research Program to Refine Critical Minerals Exploration Targeting