Primary Hydrogen Corp. (HDRO.V, HNATF) shares climbed to $1.0800 on Monday, gaining 2.94% during the trading session. The rally followed news that the company had staked the Northumberland Natural Hydrogen Project in Nova Scotia, bringing its land position to two exploration licences totalling 72 claims across roughly 1,166 hectares.

Staking Ground in the Cumberland Basin

The Northumberland Project sits along the northern margin of the Cumberland Basin and comprises licences 58173 and 58174, covering ground between Northport and Pugwash. The site fronts the Northumberland Strait and offers road access via Route 6.

Natural hydrogen, also called geological hydrogen, forms within the Earth's crust through water-rock reactions, rather than being produced by electrolysis or made from natural gas as most hydrogen is today. The prospect of a low-cost, lower-emission supply that could be explored for and produced much like a conventional gas resource has driven a wave of interest, from Mali — where natural hydrogen has supplied a village power plant — to programs in the United States, Australia, and parts of Europe.

Primary Hydrogen acquired the ground through Nova Scotia's NovaROC staking system. The new claims adjoin a licence block linked to Kavenex Energy and Koloma Inc., a U.S.-based natural hydrogen company that has raised more than $400 million from major backers.

CEO David Jackson called the staking an asymmetric entry at low cost, noting that strong drill readings across the basin have drawn competition for available land. Primary Hydrogen moved quickly as a result, securing its position along the basin's northern margin.

Cumberland Basin Draws Regional Exploration Activity

Nova Scotia issued 814 exploration licences in 2025, nearly double the prior year's total, and new claims over that period concentrated heavily in Cumberland County. In April 2026, the province passed dedicated hydrogen exploration rules, formalizing how natural hydrogen exploration is permitted.

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. reported a 16.0% hydrogen reading at Bennett Hill in June, after reporting a 10.77% reading at West-Advocate in May. First Atlas Resources separately reported elevated soil-gas readings near Springhill.

These results come from neighbouring properties rather than from Primary Hydrogen's own claims, and the company has not independently verified the figures reported by other issuers. Even so, the readings underline the growing exploration momentum across the wider basin.

Initial Field Program Outlined

For the current season, Primary Hydrogen plans data compilation and structural interpretation work, to be followed by a soil-gas orientation survey across the newly staked claim block. Soil-gas surveys measure hydrogen and related gases seeping from the ground and are a standard first-pass screening tool in natural hydrogen exploration. With the basin's reported readings sitting on other issuers' ground, the orientation survey is set to deliver the first direct field measurements on Primary Hydrogen's own claims. Results from that work will guide future drill-target selection.

Management expects the Northumberland position to strengthen the company's broader exploration portfolio, and Primary Hydrogen said it will provide updates as fieldwork progresses through the season. The company has positioned itself early in the basin, adjoining one of its best-funded projects.

Shares of Primary Hydrogen closed the session near a fresh daily high. The 2.94% gain came as the staking announcement drew renewed market attention to the stock.

Source: Blockonomi