Nickel 28 Announces Increase in Ramu Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves

Original announcement by tmx on

Company
Nickel 28 Capital Corp.
Ticker
NKL
Exchange
TSX
Region
Papua New Guinea
Primary commodity
Nickel
Secondary commodities
Cobalt
Document categories
Resource update, Production
Extracted
2026-09-14 14:47:48 UTC

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Minestarters Atlas analysis

Summary

Nickel 28 has announced updated mineral resources and reserves for the Ramu Nickel-Cobalt operation, effective December 31, 2025. The update highlights a 13% increase in contained nickel metal and successful reserve replacement, driven by 2025 exploration drilling.

Reasoning: The update shows significant growth in contained nickel metal and successful reserve replacement despite mining depletion, driven by 2025 exploration.

Positive factors

  • Contained nickel metal increased by ~13% year-over-year
  • Successful reserve replacement through drilling and resource conversion
  • M&I resource tonnage increased by ~16%
  • Reserve nickel grade increased from 0.81% to 0.87%

Negative factors

  • Modest decrease in M&I nickel grades from 0.88% to 0.81%
  • Material depletion from ongoing mining activities

Facts used in scoring: 10

Classification and evidence

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: The update was prepared according to the guidelines of the JORC Code by Competent Persons.

Evidence · text

“prepared according to the guidelines of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (" JORC " or the " JORC Code")”

Contained Metal Growthpositive

True scale improvement — contained metal ounces/tonnes increased vs prior, accounting for both tonnage and grade changes.

Why it applies: The update resulted in an approximate 13% increase in contained nickel.

Evidence · text

“resulting in an approximate 13% increase in contained nickel”

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: The mineral resources and reserves are reported at a cut-off of 0.5% Ni.

Evidence · text

“Mineral resources at a cut off of 0.5% Ni”

Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 10. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

Resource Estimates (10)

measuredRamu · nickelTonnes: 102000000Grade: 0.89Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
nickel
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:678a0abdea8d81c83441
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
measured
Tonnes
102000000
Grade
0.89
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Measured nickel grade of 0.89% in a large tonnage intercept.

Evidence · table

“0.89”

Context: 102

Tags used in scoring

Measured Resourcepositive

Highest confidence category — tonnage, grade, shape well-established from closely-spaced drilling. Basis for Proven Reserves.

Why it applies: category is "measured"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

measuredRamu · cobaltTonnes: 102000000Grade: 0.09Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
cobalt
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:678a0abdea8d81c83441
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
measured
Tonnes
102000000
Grade
0.09
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Measured cobalt grade of 0.09%.

Evidence · table

“0.09”

Context: 102

Tags used in scoring

Measured Resourcepositive

Highest confidence category — tonnage, grade, shape well-established from closely-spaced drilling. Basis for Proven Reserves.

Why it applies: category is "measured"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

indicatedRamu · nickelTonnes: 103000000Grade: 0.83Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
nickel
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:4775bb8bbff77c79c87b
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
indicated
Tonnes
103000000
Grade
0.83
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Indicated nickel grade of 0.83%.

Evidence · table

“0.83”

Context: 103

Tags used in scoring

Indicated Resourcepositive

Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.

Why it applies: category is "indicated"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

indicatedRamu · cobaltTonnes: 103000000Grade: 0.07Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
cobalt
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:4775bb8bbff77c79c87b
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
indicated
Tonnes
103000000
Grade
0.07
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Indicated cobalt grade of 0.07%.

Evidence · table

“0.07”

Context: 103

Tags used in scoring

Indicated Resourcepositive

Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.

Why it applies: category is "indicated"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

inferredRamu · nickelTonnes: 24000000Grade: 0.81Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
nickel
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:9246021adb05cb19b478
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
inferred
Tonnes
24000000
Grade
0.81
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Inferred nickel grade of 0.81%.

Evidence · table

“0.81”

Context: 24

Tags used in scoring

Inferred Resourcenegative

Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.

Why it applies: category is "inferred"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

inferredRamu · cobaltTonnes: 24000000Grade: 0.08Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
cobalt
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:9246021adb05cb19b478
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
inferred
Tonnes
24000000
Grade
0.08
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Inferred cobalt grade of 0.08%.

Evidence · table

“0.08”

Context: 24

Tags used in scoring

Inferred Resourcenegative

Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.

Why it applies: category is "inferred"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

provenRamu · nickelTonnes: 68000000Grade: 0.87Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
nickel
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
reserve
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:3327191d8604d88075db
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
proven
Tonnes
68000000
Grade
0.87
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Proven nickel grade of 0.87%.

Evidence · table

“0.87”

Context: 68

Tags used in scoring

Proven Reservepositive

Measured Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors.

Why it applies: category is "proven"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

provenRamu · cobaltTonnes: 68000000Grade: 0.09Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
cobalt
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
reserve
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:3327191d8604d88075db
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
proven
Tonnes
68000000
Grade
0.09
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Proven cobalt grade of 0.09%.

Evidence · table

“0.09”

Context: 68

Tags used in scoring

Proven Reservepositive

Measured Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors.

Why it applies: category is "proven"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

probableRamu · nickelTonnes: 8000000Grade: 0.9Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
nickel
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
reserve
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:3d165d65b336be049b25
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
probable
Tonnes
8000000
Grade
0.9
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Probable nickel grade of 0.90%.

Evidence · table

“0.90”

Context: 8

Tags used in scoring

Probable Reservepositive

Indicated Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors.

Why it applies: category is "probable"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

probableRamu · cobaltTonnes: 8000000Grade: 0.09Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Ramu
Commodity
cobalt
Region
png
Reported Region
Papua New Guinea
Ticker
NKL

Resource scope

Estimate type
reserve
Effective date
2025-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Reporting standards
jorc
Resource group id
resource:3d165d65b336be049b25
Deposit or zone
Ramu
Ownership percent
67.02 %
Resource basis
gross

Resource Data

Category
probable
Tonnes
8000000
Grade
0.09
Grade Unit
%
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
% Ni

Prior Estimate

Resource Date
2025-12-31

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Probable cobalt grade of 0.09%.

Evidence · table

“0.09”

Context: 8

Tags used in scoring

Probable Reservepositive

Indicated Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors.

Why it applies: category is "probable"

Cut-off Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

JORC Compliantpositive

Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.

Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc

No Contained Metalnegative

Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting.

Why it applies: contained_metal was not reported

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: the release compares against a previous estimate

How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.