Investor Insight

Coelacanth Energy presents strong growth potential in the Canadian light oil and natural gas sector, supported by rapidly increasing production, robust pad performance at Two Rivers, and continued infrastructure buildout. Encouraging well test results and a management team with a track record of repeated success position Coelacanth as a compelling long-term growth story.

Overview

Coelacanth Energy (TSXV:CEI) is a junior oil and natural gas exploration and development company, focusing primarily on the prolific Montney region in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. With a substantial landholding of approximately 150 net sections in the Two Rivers area of Montney, Coelacanth is strategically positioned to harness the potential of one of the most resource-rich natural gas basins in North America.

Coelacanth distinguishes itself with a two-pronged strategy: near-term production growth and long-term resource development. Supported by advanced geological delineation and a robust infrastructure buildout, the company is poised to scale efficiently as it transitions from exploration to production.

Backed by a management team that has built and sold six successful oil and gas companies, Coelacanth is focused on delivering returns through disciplined capital deployment and operational execution.

The Montney Advantage

The Montney Formation spans British Columbia and Alberta and is known for its high levels of recoverable natural gas and liquids. Montney has attracted numerous large oil and gas producers, including companies like Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), Shell, ARC Resources (ARX), Tourmaline Oil Corp (TOU), and ConocoPhillips (COP). The presence of such large players highlights the importance of this region in contributing to both the Canadian and global energy markets.

Coelacanth’s landholdings are strategically located in the Two Rivers area of Montney, giving it access to a highly productive portion of the basin. Unlike many junior exploration companies, Coelacanth is drill-ready, positioning it favorably among its peers. By securing significant infrastructure and landholdings, Coelacanth ensures its ability to tap into the natural gas and oil resources that lie beneath its properties, a key advantage in the competitive Montney region.

Company Highlights

• Over 150 net sections of contiguous land in the Two Rivers area, located in the Montney geological fairway, one of North America’s most prolific liquids-rich natural gas regions.
• Strategic proximity to major producers like ARC Resources, Tourmaline Oil Corp, Shell and ConocoPhillips.
• Two Rivers East began first production in June 2025, with systematic ramp-up ongoing through the year.
• Phase 1 facilities now operational (30 mmcf/d + associated oil); Phase 2 to add compression and double capacity by late 2025.
• Nine wells drilled and tested on the 5-19 pad with over 11,000 boe/d in aggregate flush test rates; multiple wells exceeding 1,200 boe/d with strong light-oil cuts.
• Q3 2025 production increased 296 percent to 3,280 boe/d, driven by new volumes from Two Rivers East.
• Estimated production growth: 4,000 boe/d in 2025; 11,000 boe/d in 2026; 15,000 boe/d in 2027.

Key Projects

Two Rivers East and Two Rivers West

The Two Rivers Montney development remains the foundation of Coelacanth’s long-term growth strategy. The project includes multiple Montney benches – Lower, Upper, Basal and Middle – providing significant running room for future drilling. The company has now drilled and tested nine wells on the 5-19 pad, with combined flush test rates exceeding 11,000 boe/d and strong light-oil cuts across several Lower Montney wells.

Two Rivers East began first production in June 2025, and wells are being brought on stream in stages as facility capacity becomes available. Phase 1 facilities, capable of processing 30 mmcf/d of gas and associated oil, were completed for the June startup. Phase 2, expected to be commissioned in late 2025, will add compression and approximately double throughput capacity to support ongoing pad development.

The Two Rivers West area remains in production and continues to demonstrate commercial performance, with additional upside in the Upper Montney and opportunities for further delineation across the land base. These results support the broader multi-zone development potential across Coelacanth’s 150-section Montney position.

Market Access and Takeaway Agreements

Coelacanth lands are directly connected to LNG Canada via Coastal Gaslink for potential future delivery.

Coelacanth has secured long-term gas takeaway for its growing production base. The company holds firm commitments for up to 100 mmcf/d of natural gas takeaway capacity and has secured processing capacity of up to 60 mmcf/d at a third-party facility. Oil and condensate produced from the Montney light oil window can be trucked to regional terminals or connected via infrastructure to major hubs including Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Prince George.

On the gas side, Coelacanth has egress options through pipelines such as NGTL, Westcoast and Alliance, and is strategically positioned to benefit from future access to LNG Canada via the Coastal GasLink system.

Board and Management

Rob Zakresky – President and CEO

Rob Zakresky has a significant background in the oil and gas sector, previously serving as the president and CEO of Leucrotta Exploration as well as five additional predecessor companies. He has been with Coelacanth Energy since its inception and is recognized for his strategic leadership and focus on enhancing shareholder value. His expertise in financial management and operations is reflected in his approach to driving the company’s growth.

Bret Kimpton – Vice-president of Operations and COO

Bret Kimpton joined Coelacanth Energy in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous role as vice president of production at Storm Resources, where he contributed to significant production growth. He has a strong background in construction and operations, especially in the Montney region of British Columbia, managing various fields. His role at Coelacanth focuses on overseeing operational efficiency and implementing the company’s growth strategies.

Nolan Chicoine – Vice-president of Finance and CFO

Nolan Chicoine has also been with Coelacanth Energy since its inception. His responsibilities encompass financial oversight, including financial planning, reporting, and analysis. He plays a crucial role in aligning the financial strategies with the company’s operational goals. His background includes significant experience in financial management as CFO for Leucrotta Exploration, Crocotta Energy, and Chamaelo Energy.

Jody Denis – Vice-president of Drilling & Completions

Jody Denis is the former drilling, engineering & operations engineer at Leucrotta Exploration. Prior to that, he was senior operations advisor at Black Swan Energy, drilling manager at ARC Resources, and drilling and completions manager at Birchcliff Energy.

John Fur – Vice-president, Geosciences

John Fur is the former manager, exploration of Leucrotta Exploration, and former senior geophysicist at Crocotta Energy, Chamaelo Energy, Chamaelo Exploration, Viracocha Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, Post Energy, Amber Energy and Husky Oil.

Dan Rach – Vice-president, Production

Dan Rach joined Coelacanth in Sept 2023 as senior production engineer. Prior to that, he was production engineer at Canadian Natural Resource, engineering manager at Bidell Equipment LP, supplier quality engineer at Flextronics Network Services, and manufacturing engineer at General Motors.

Target rate probabilities for January Fed meeting.

Chart via CME Group.

The Fed’s next rate announcement is set for January 28, and CME Group’s (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool shows strong expectations for a hold. That’s despite core consumer price index (CPI) data showing that inflation rose by a lower-than-expected 0.2 percent for December. On an annual basis, core CPI was up 2.6 percent.

Trump has frequently criticized Powell for not lowering rates quickly enough, and Powell’s replacement, who has not yet been announced, is widely expected to be more in line with Trump’s views.

“We see increased interference with the Fed as a key bullish wildcard for the precious metals in 2026,” Carsten Menke, head of next-generation research at Julius Baer Group, told Bloomberg. He noted that because silver is a smaller market than gold, it typically reacts “more strongly to such concerns.”

Silver price chart, January 15 to 23, 2026.

Silver and its sister metal gold tend to fare better when rates are lower, meaning rate cut expectations coupled with the investigation of Powell and the Fed have helped to stoke prices for the precious metals.

While silver is known for lagging behind gold before outperforming, it’s now ahead in terms of percentage gains — silver is up about 220 percent year-on-year, while gold has risen around 78 percent.

The yellow metal also hit a new all-time high on Friday, peaking at US$4,987.28 per ounce.

In addition to rate-related factors, silver’s breakout this year has been driven by various other elements.

As a precious metal, it’s influenced by many of the same factors as gold, but its October price jump, which took it past the US$50 level, was also driven by a lack of liquidity in the London market.

While that issue appears to have resolved, silver remains in a multi-year supply deficit. Tariff concerns and silver’s new status as a critical mineral in the US have also provided support.

In addition to its appeal as a precious metal, silver’s industrial side shouldn’t be forgotten — according to the Silver Institute, the white metal’s ‘global silver industrial demand is poised to grow further as demand from vital technology sectors accelerates over the next five years. Sectors such as solar energy, automotive electric vehicles and their infrastructure, and data centers and artificial intelligence will drive industrial demand higher through 2030.’

A mysterious and vague framework

What has followed has been a series of clarifications about what the deal does not include.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark is open to negotiations on security and cooperation but stressed that “we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty.”

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen echoed that position, calling sovereignty a ‘red line’ and saying he was unaware of the substance of any framework being discussed.

NATO officials have likewise emphasized that the alliance has no mandate to negotiate territorial arrangements and that any talks would have to involve Denmark, Greenland, and the US directly.

Despite the lack of specifics, Trump’s comments have revived debate over why Greenland matters so much to Washington. Security considerations have dominated official statements, yet Greenland’s natural resources remain a central but unresolved part of the picture.

A resource-centric agenda

Despite the lack of specifics, Trump’s comments have revived debate over why Greenland matters so much to Washington. Security considerations have dominated official statements, yet Greenland’s natural resources remain a central but unresolved part of the picture.

Greenland is believed to sit on top of large reserves of oil and natural gas, though commercial extraction has yet to take off. The island is thought to host substantial deposits of minerals considered critical for modern economies and military technologies.

According to the 2023 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 25 of the 34 minerals classified as “critical raw materials” by the European Commission are found in Greenland, including graphite, niobium and titanium. These materials are essential for electronics, Trump himself has frequently linked Greenland to minerals and security in the same breath, arguing that US control would put the country in “a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals.”

At times, however, Trump has appeared to downplay the economic case, instead emphasizing geopolitical threats.

“I want Greenland for security – I don’t want it for anything else,” he told reporters at Davos. “You have to go 25ft down through ice to get it. It’s not, it’s not something that a lot of people are going to do or want to do.”

Even so, access to Greenland’s resources has loomed large in the background of the administration’s agenda. Trump has made countering China’s dominance in rare earths and strategic minerals a core economic and national security priority, placing supply chains at the center of US geopolitical strategy.

The US has been moving in that direction for years. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, Washington reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, as part of a broader effort to deepen ties amid expanding Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.

Since Trump returned to office, his allies have increasingly framed Greenland as a commercial opportunity as well as a strategic one, citing climate change-driven shifts that are opening new shipping routes and access to fisheries, energy, and mineral resources.

Shades of an existing agreement

For now, none of those ambitions have been reflected in concrete terms tied to Trump’s announced framework. NATO said only that future negotiations would aim to ensure Russia and China “never gain a foothold — economically or militarily — in Greenland.”

While that language could encompass mining and investment restrictions, it stops short of any commitment on mineral access or ownership.

According to a New York Times report, officials familiar with parallel discussions said one idea floated informally involved granting the US sovereignty or near-sovereign control over small areas of Greenland for military bases, modeled on Britain’s sovereign base areas in Cyprus.

Such an arrangement would address defense concerns but would do little to resolve questions about mineral rights, which are governed by Greenlandic law and subject to strong local political sensitivities.”

Trump’s shifting tone has also prompted scrutiny in Washington. When asked whether the framework met his earlier demand to “own” Greenland, Trump avoided the question, calling the arrangement “a long-term deal” that was “infinite” and “forever.”

Critics have noted that similar language already applies to the 1951 US-Denmark defense agreement, which allows an open-ended American military presence at what is now Pituffik Space Base.

Updated in 2004, the same agreement gives the US wide authority within its defense areas, including control over personnel, equipment, and movement. Some analysts argue that most of what Trump appears to be seeking could be achieved by revising or expanding that framework rather than pursuing ownership or sovereignty.

Whether the new framework goes further remains unclear. US, Danish, and Greenlandic officials are expected to continue talks in the coming weeks, and a working group could meet as early as next week to flesh out details.

Until then, the absence of explicit language on critical minerals stands out, given how often they have been invoked as a justification for Trump’s aggressive rhetoric.