Preliminary Assessment for Turnagain Nickel Project Shows Positive Economics with Potential 29 Year Mine Life

(VANCOUVER) – Hard Creek Nickel Corporation (TSX.V – HNC) today announced that AMEC Americas Limited (AMEC) has completed a positive Preliminary Assessment (the “Study”) of the Company’s 100% owned Turnagain Nickel Project, located near Dease Lake in British Columbia, Canada. The Study dated December 10, 2007 and entitled “Updated Preliminary Assessment of the Turnagain Nickel Project”, will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days and available at the same time for viewing on the company’s website www.hardcreek.com.

The Study is based on a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate completed by AMEC. This estimate incorporates a revised and expanded geological interpretation of the Horsetrail zone and peripheral area which includes 19 drill holes from the 2007 drilling program. Timing of the Study did not allow the resource estimate to include an additional 32 infill and stepout holes for a total of 11,933 metres (39,150 feet) drilled in 2007. Samples from these drill holes have been prepared and are in the process of being analyzed.

The Study initially considered nickel recovery by both the production of a saleable concentrate and a hydrometallurgical process. Completion of the study was based on the hydrometallurgical process option given its’ better economic viability. Results presented below are for the open pit mining and hydrometallurgical process scenario.