BHP selects Nordic Nickel for inaugural Xplor program

Nordic Nickel has been selected to participate in BHP’s inaugural Xplor innovative accelerator program which is designed to support early-stage exploration companies looking for critical minerals required for the global energy transition.

BHP (ASX:BHP) will provide the company with US$500,000 in non-dilutive funding to support and accelerate its exploration plans at its flagship Pulju Nickel Project in northern Finland.

Xplor merges concepts from both venture-capital and early-stage accelerators, to establish a fit-for-purpose exploration portfolio of innovative, early-stage mineral exploration companies and helps drive their exploration campaigns.

And participants like Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) also secure full access to BHP’s deep expertise and global partnerships, including mentorship and networking opportunities with industry investors and connections.

Unlocking Pulju’s potential

The idea behind Xplor is to create disruptive results in copper and nickel exploration by identifying new concepts, leveraging new data and testing opportunities at a much faster pace than discoveries to date.

Nordic MD Todd Ross said the selection into the cohort “validates the quality and potential of our flagship Pulju Nickel Project in northern Finland, where we are targeting the potential for Tier-1 nickel discoveries in an under-explored greenstone belt with proven geological potential for large-scale critical mineral deposits.

“The non-dilutive funding provided by BHP, together with the ability to access their world-class networks and expertise, will put Nordic Nickel in an exceptional position to unlock the full potential of this asset over the next 12 months and beyond.”

Accelerating exploration

Nordic intends to use the BHP funds during its recently commenced 2023 drill program to fund several deeper holes to test the known EM targets near the base of the ultramafic cumulate layer at the Hotinvaara nickel Prospect, for “Sakatti-style” massive sulphide accumulations.

“The combination of the extensive historical drilling database and drill core from the Outokumpu era that Nordic has been able to secure, together with the Company’s modern geophysical exploration, in particular the recent downhole EM survey data from the re-opened drill-holes, has put us in an enviable position from a nickel exploration perspective, with numerous substantial drill targets now being prioritised,” Ross said.

“This combined with our world-class technical team means that the company is ideally poised to make one or more meaningful discoveries as we commence our maiden drilling program this month. “

This article was developed in collaboration with Nordic Nickel Limited, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.