Mr. Jean-Sebastien Lavallee reports

CRITICAL ELEMENTS RESUMES ITS 10,000-METER SUMMER DRILL PROGRAM AT ROSE WEST

Critical Elements Lithium Corp. has resumed its phase 2 summer 2026 exploration program, including 10,000 metres of systematic drilling around the 100-per-cent-owned Rose West discovery, located in Eeyou Istchee, Quebec.

Critical Elements announces that drilling and related exploration activities have resumed at the Rose West project, following a precautionary suspension due to the proximity of a forest fire to the project camp and drills (see press release dated July 6, 2026). All personnel has safely returned to site, and the corporation has resumed field activities following a confirmation that conditions are suitable for a safe return to operations. The corporation will continue to actively monitor the situation and maintains direct communication with local authorities.

"The health and safety of our contractors is our highest priority," said Jean-Sebastien Lavallee, chief executive officer of Critical Elements. "The corporation is thankful to the local authorities and firefighters for their dedication and hard work in supporting the safety of local communities and camp safety."

The winter 2026 drilling program was very successful in expanding the lateral footprint of the known mineralized pegmatites and in identifying new lithium-tantalum-bearing pegmatites in both the hangingwall and footwall of the main Pegmatite 3 zone.

Located approximately 10 kilometres to the west of the Rose lithium-tantalum project, Rose West is a near-surface lithium-rich pegmatite-bearing zone, initially intercepted by drilling over a 450-metre-by-370-metre footprint area in the winter of 2024, covering an overall footprint of 1,250 m by 800 m (see press release dated June 9, 2026), a six-fold increase in surface expression. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 m in thickness and together display a subhorizontal stacked geometry. Recent drilling has identified three new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area. The phase 2 summer 2026 drill program is designed to further expand this mineralized footprint and to better define the geometry and extent of the three new mineralized pegmatites intersected during the winter 2026 campaign.

The summer 2026 drill program is designed to reach three specific goals:

1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint;
2. Infill drilling along Line C to confirm grade and thickness continuity of the intersected pegmatites;
3. Follow up on both newly discovered mineralized pegmatites (6 and 7) below the current extent of mineralization.

To date, 11 holes were drilled in the northeastern corner of the main target area for a total of 2,073 metres.

The corporation has deployed two drill rigs to optimize the duration of the program. The drilling strategy is straightforward: based on the current geological model and interpretation, apply a 100-metre grid approach to expand the known mineralized volume from its current boundary outward. The program targets the expansion of the mineralized footprint to a potential of approximately 1,250 by 2,000 m, and could confirm the addition of at least two more mineralized pegmatite bodies within the system.

As previously discussed, the stacked nature of the mineralized system allows for the intersection of multiple pegmatite bodies within a given drill hole. While keeping the same grid-based systematic approach, not all drill holes are anticipated to intersect each pegmatite.

"So far, the summer 2026 drilling program is well engaged, providing the data needed to optimize the growth potential of the various mineralized zones and increase the level of confidence in our 3-D geological model. Given the success of the current drilling program, we will therefore continue to further test the extent of the zones in all directions. We are hopeful that the program will demonstrate the continuity of not just one, but several lithium- and tantalum-rich pegmatites that are confirmed to date. Lastly, from a wildfire perspective, we are grateful to assess that the situation at the project area has evolved in the right way, field activities can resume and, most importantly, everyone is safe. We will be making sure that it remains this way," commented Kenneth Williamson, director of exploration of the corporation.

Quality assurance/quality control

Quality assurance and quality control procedures have been implemented to ensure best practices in sampling and analysis of the drill core samples. Standards, duplicate and blanks were regularly inserted into the sample stream. The drill core samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags to the ALS Minerals laboratory facility in Val d'Or, Que. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation. The samples are crushed to 70 per cent minus two millimetres, then separated and pulverized to 85 per cent passing 75 micrometres. All samples are analyzed using sodium peroxide fusion ME-MS-89L, with full analysis for 52 elements.

Qualified person

Kenneth Williamson, Geo, MSc, director of exploration at Critical Elements, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the corporation.

About Critical Elements Lithium Corp.

Critical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly owned, high-purity Rose lithium-tantalum project in Quebec, the corporation's first lithium project to be advanced within a land portfolio of over 1,016 square kilometres. On Aug. 29, 2023, the corporation announced results of a new feasibility study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The after-tax internal rate of return for the project is estimated at 65.7 per cent, with an estimated after-tax net present value of $2.2-billion (U.S.) at an 8-per-cent discount rate. In the corporation's view, Quebec is strategically well positioned for U.S. and European Union markets, and boasts good infrastructure, including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 94 per cent hydroelectricity. The project has received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the joint assessment committee, composed of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation government, received the certificate of authorization under the Environment Quality Act from the Quebec Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, and the project mining lease from the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests under the Quebec Mining Act.

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