Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project Update

Summary by AI BETAClose X

Metals One PLC has announced that its Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project in Finland has not been granted EU Strategic Project designation, despite the European Commission acknowledging its alignment with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and potential for security of supply. The Commission concluded that the project requires further work to prove its technical and economic feasibility, advance environmental and permitting activities, and secure financing and offtake arrangements. As the project is considered non-core to Metals One's gold and uranium focus, the Board is reviewing its options, considering the required further work, the short-to-mid-term outlook for nickel prices, and its portfolio position. The company's near-term focus remains on its South African gold opportunities.

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Metals One PLC
14 October 2026
 

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14 October 2026 

Metals One Plc

("Metals One" or the "Company")

 

Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project Update

 

Further to the announcement on 15 January 2026, Metals One (AIM: MET1, OTCQB: MTOPF), a critical and precious metals project developer and investor with a focus on gold and uranium, provides an update on its application for EU Strategic Project designation for the Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project ("Black Schist" or the "Project") in Finland.

The European Commission (the "Commission") recognised the positive attributes of the Project, including its alignment with the objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and potential to contribute to the EU's security of supply of strategic raw materials. It also acknowledged the benefits of commercially established bio-heap leaching technology at the nearby Terrafame mine, access to existing infrastructure and the quality of the Project's environmental and social planning, including the Environmental and Social Roadmap prepared by AFRY, an international engineering and environmental consultancy.

While recognising these strengths, the assessment concluded that the Project remains at an early stage of development and that further work is required to substantiate its technical and economic feasibility, advance environmental and permitting activities, and establish financing and offtake arrangements. Accordingly, the Project has not been granted Strategic Project designation in the Commission's current round under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

The Project is considered non-core to Metals One's gold and uranium focused portfolio and as such the Board is reviewing its options with regard to the Project, taking into consideration the further work required to advance the Project, the short-to-mid-term outlook for nickel prices, and its position within the Company's wider portfolio.

Daniel Maling, Managing Director of Metals One, commented:

"Though disappointing that Strategic Project designation has not been granted, we are encouraged by the positive acknowledgements within the assessment, particularly regarding its technical potential and the quality of the environmental planning undertaken to date.

"The Company's near-term focus remains the significant opportunity in South Africa and advancing and restarting the Barbrook acquisition as part of building a vertically integrated gold business."

Enquiries:

Metals One Plc

Daniel Maling, Managing Director

Craig Moulton, Chairman

 

info@metals-one.com

+44 (0)20 7981 2576

 

Spark Advisory Partners (Nominated Adviser)

James Keeshan / Andrew Emmott

+44 (0)20 3368 3550

Bowsprit Partners Limited (Strategic Adviser)

Luis Brime / John Treacy / James Sheehan

+44 (0)20 3883 4430

CREST Corporate Broking (Broker)

Jerry Keen

+44 (0)20 3973 3678

Vigo Consulting (Investor Relations)

Ben Simons / Fiona Hetherington / George Pope

IR.MetalsOne@vigoconsulting.com +44 (0)20 7390 0230

 

  

About Metals One

 

Metals One is a critical and precious metals project developer and investor with a focus on gold and uranium. Our core interests include a South African gold and energy platform, a brownfield gold/copper exploration project in Northern Peru, uranium exploration and tailings reprocessing opportunities in the USA, a gold exploration project in the USA, and AI metals exploration in Tanzania.

 

Metals One's shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market (MET1) and on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States (MTOPF).

 

Map of Metals One core projects/investments

 

 

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