Mr. Duane Parnham reports

CRITICAL ONE ENERGY ESTABLISHES MODERN TECHNICAL FOUNDATION AT HOWELLS LAKE WITH INDEPENDENT NI 43-101 REPORT

Critical One Energy Inc. has received an independent National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared by Micon International Ltd. for its flagship Howells Lake antimony-gold project, located approximately 120 kilometres west of the Ring of Fire access corridor in Ontario, Canada. The report marks a key technical milestone for Howells Lake, with Micon concluding that Critical One's modern exploration data provide a suitable foundation for continued exploration, deposit modelling and advancement toward a potential initial mineral resource estimate.

Highlights:

• Near-surface mineralization across an expanding drilled footprint: Antimony has been intersected over more than 300 metres of strike, from near surface to approximately 200 metres below surface, with further drilling required to confirm continuity between drill holes.
• High-grade results extend beyond a single hole: The report documents previously announced massive-stibnite intersections in holes 6 and 7, followed by broader antimony-bearing intervals in hole 16 approximately 70 metres northeast. Gold has also been identified west of and beneath the principal antimony mineralization.
• Processing options supported by preliminary mineralogy: Blue Coast Research identified stibnite as the principal antimony mineral in the antimony-bearing samples studied, with potential for flotation and gravity concentration. Further test work is needed to establish recovery, concentrate quality and other variability between mineralized zones.

"North America needs antimony it does not have to import, and we intend Howells Lake to be part of the answer," said Duane Parnham, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Critical One. "We took the project from historical records to a modern exploration program, and we now have an independent view of the geology and the work needed next. This report is an important step in turning our work into a credible future supply option."

Next steps

Micon considers the company's $9.4-million exploration program, centred on a fully financed 20,000-metre drill program, appropriate and recommends that Critical One continue the program. The next phase will build on the results generated to date by expanding the drilled footprint, testing potential higher-grade zones and refining the geological model, alongside further metallurgical work and targeted trenching of surface antimony mineralization.

Technical report and qualified persons

The report is titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project, Thunder Bay Mining Division, Ontario, Canada, N.T.S. Map Sheet 52P 9/10," dated and effective Sept. 15, 2026. It was prepared by William J. Lewis, PGeo, and Mike Round, MCSM, FIMMM, of Micon, both independent qualified persons under NI 43-101. The technical report is an exploration-stage report and does not include a current mineral resource estimate.

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Matthew Trenkler, PGeo, chief geological officer of Critical One Energy, a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101.

Micon's independent review included a site inspection, examination of the exploration database and sampling procedures, and 12 check assays. The check assays generally performed well, with two results identified for further investigation. Micon also recommends the addition of duplicate and independent check sampling to the company's quality assurance/quality control program.

About Critical One Energy Inc.

Critical One Energy is a critical minerals exploration company dedicated to advancing its flagship Howells Lake antimony-gold project as a new North American source of antimony for defence, energy storage, advanced technologies and industrial applications. The Howells Lake antimony-gold project, located in Ontario, Canada, hosts high-grade antimony mineralization confirmed through a modern drilling program. The company's objective is to advance Howells Lake as a potential Canadian source of antimony and help reduce North America's dependence on foreign supply.

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