First Nickel Reports That the Lockerby Mine Has Resumed Normal Operations

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 04/30/12 -- First Nickel Inc. ("First Nickel", "FNI" or the "Company") (TSX: FNI) reports that it has completed the work required to satisfy the stop work order issued by the Ministry of Labor last week. The Ministry lifted the order at 6:00pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012 and the mine has resumed normal operations starting with the shift on Sunday night. The Company does not anticipate any negative impact on second quarter production.

Thomas M Boehlert, President & Chief Executive Officer commented, "I am very pleased with the Lockerby team's ability to quickly respond, assess and resolve the issues causing the interruption. The dedication and cooperation of our employees and contractors bodes well as we continue to safely ramp-up the Lockerby mine to full production over the course of this year."

"Over the past week management and the union have worked very closely to address the issues identified by the Ministry. I'm very pleased that the safety of our members remains a top priority at the Lockerby Mine," added Richard Paquin, President of CAW Local Mine Mill 598.

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.

Contacts:

First Nickel Inc.

Thomas Boehlert

President & CEO

416 362-7050
tboehlert@firstnickel.com