First Nickel Provides Update on Ministry of Labour Order

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 26, 2012) - First Nickel Inc. ("First Nickel", "FNI" or the "Company") (TSX:FNI) reports that it has completed an assessment of the No. 2 shaft and established a plan to address the deficiencies raised in the Ministry of Labour order issued on April 23^rd, which relate primarily to the manway. Based on the plan, the Company expects to have undertaken the work and addressed the items that resulted in the order by Monday April 30^th.

Thomas M. Boehlert, President and Chief Executive Officer said "First Nickel expects to resume normal operations again at the Lockerby Mine as soon as practical once the order has been lifted and that the safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is of upmost importance."

About First Nickel Inc.

First Nickel is a Canadian mining and exploration company. The Company's mission is to be the most dynamic North American emerging base metal mining company in which to work and invest and to be respected in the communities in which we operate. FNI is in the process of ramping up production at its Lockerby nickel / copper mine in the Sudbury Basin in northern Ontario. Once the Lockerby Mine reaches full production (expected by end of 2012), it is expected to produce at a rate of approximately 10 million pounds of nickel and approximately 7 million pounds of copper annually, providing a strong base of cash flow from which to grow the Company. In addition to the Lockerby nickel mine, the Company owns exploration properties in the Sudbury Basin, the Timmins region of northern Ontario, and the Belmont region of Eastern Ontario. First Nickel's shares are traded on the TSX under the symbol FNI.