NICKEL MINING – First Nickel digs into Lockerby

ONTARIO - Toronto-based FIRST NICKEL is taking over production responsibilities at the Lockerby nickel/PGM mine near Sudbury. Effective Oct. 1, 2005, the company's contract with F.A. MacINTYRE will expire and not be renewed. The 57 people employed by MacIntyre to redevelop the mine will be offered employment with First Nickel.

First Nickel purchased the mine from FALCONBRIDGE earlier this year (see Net News, June 1, 2005). The first ore production from the reopened mine is expected next month.

See www.FirstNickel.com for information on the company's other projects, Dundonald and North Range.