Mr. Dean Hanisch reports

FOCUS GRAPHITE ADVANCES LAC KNIFE TOWARD CONSTRUCTION READINESS WITH UP TO C$1.93 MILLION IN COMBINED GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

Focus Graphite Inc. has engaged Construction & Expertise PG to advance geotechnical investigations and detailed engineering for the proposed all-season access road to its flagship Lac Knife graphite project in Quebec.

The engagement marks an important step toward construction readiness and forms part of a broader infrastructure initiative supported by up to $1,932,750 in combined non-dilutive federal and provincial funding. This includes newly approved non-repayable financial assistance of up to $554,050 from the Societe du Plan Nord (SPN), representing 50 per cent of eligible access road planning and development costs under its Northern Infrastructure Fund in Support of the Mining Sector (Enveloppe nordique d'infrastructures en appui au secteur minier) and previously announced support of up to $1,378,700 from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through its First and Last Mile Fund (FLMF). The provincial contribution is dedicated exclusively to the access road while the federal funding supports preconstruction planning for both the road and the electrical infrastructure required to connect Lac Knife to Hydro-Quebec's power network.

Together, these complementary investments are helping advance the transportation and energy infrastructure necessary for Lac Knife's development while allowing the company to preserve capital for its broader project development and advanced materials strategy.

Advancing Lac Knife's access road toward construction readiness

The proposed all-weather gravel access road will connect the Lac Knife project site to Highway 389, providing reliable year-round access to support future mine construction, personnel transportation, equipment mobilization and the eventual transportation of graphite concentrate. PG's mandate encompasses geotechnical and geophysical investigations, subsurface characterization, evaluation of construction materials, and engineering activities required to advance a construction-ready access road design. Key deliverables will include preliminary and final engineering drawings, technical specifications, a bill of quantities, detailed cost estimates, a construction schedule, and tender documents to support future construction planning and procurement.

The program includes:

• Approximately 11 kilometres of geophysical investigations using seismic refraction and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW), including associated data processing, interpretation and technical reporting;
• Approximately 60 geotechnical test pits along the proposed road corridor to characterize subsurface conditions, assess soil and foundation properties, and inform road design requirements;
• Reconnaissance and sampling of potential borrow material sources, supported by laboratory testing of foundation soils and construction materials to evaluate their suitability for road construction;
• Targeted geotechnical drilling at critical locations along the proposed road corridor, where warranted by field investigation results and subject to additional authorization;
• High-resolution drone-based topographic surveys of the proposed road corridor and any revised alignments to support final engineering design and future construction planning;
• Development of geotechnical profiles, pavement design recommendations and associated technical reporting to support detailed road and drainage engineering.

The field investigation program has advanced substantially, generating critical technical data to refine engineering designs, optimize construction requirements and support the next phase of project development.

"Infrastructure is what transforms a mineral resource into a strategic asset," said Dean Hanisch, chief executive officer of Focus Graphite. "With PG advancing the technical work required for our access road, we are translating project planning into tangible steps towards construction readiness. The support of the governments of Quebec and Canada allows us to advance this essential infrastructure while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and project development."

The co-ordinated advancement of road access and grid connection planning is intended to strengthen Lac Knife's development readiness, reduce infrastructure-related uncertainty and establish the technical foundation for future construction.

"Support from two levels of government for complementary infrastructure initiatives underscores the strategic importance of advancing Lac Knife," said Jason Latkowcer, vice-president, corporate development, of Focus Graphite. "We are systematically removing barriers to development, reducing risk and strengthening Lac Knife's investment case while leveraging non-dilutive funding to minimize shareholder dilution."

Responsible infrastructure development

The Lac Knife project is located on the Nitassinan, the ancestral lands of the Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-utenam (ITUM). Focus has maintained a collaborative relationship with ITUM since entering into a predevelopment agreement in 2014 and continues to advance project planning in collaboration with the community.

The company's infrastructure strategy prioritizes the use of existing transportation corridors wherever practical, with the objective of minimizing new environmental disturbance while supporting responsible project development.

The proposed access road and electrical connection are fundamental components of Lac Knife's long-term development strategy. Together, they are intended to establish reliable year-round access and support the transition toward grid-connected mining and processing operations.

Lac Knife hosts one of North America's highest-grade natural graphite deposits and serves as the upstream foundation of Focus Graphite's strategy to establish an integrated advanced graphite materials platform serving battery, defence, nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing supply chains.

Qualified person

The technical content disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, PE, president of Brasil Insight Capital LLC, a consultant to the company and a qualified person as defined under National Instrument NI 43-101.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite is building an integrated graphite platform to supply the industries shaping the future. Through the development of world-class graphite resources, advanced processing technologies and higher-value advanced materials, the company is positioning itself to support battery, defence, advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries across North America and allied markets.

The platform is anchored by the company's two 100-per-cent-owned graphite assets in Quebec. Lac Knife is one of North America's highest-grade feasibility-stage graphite deposits while Lac Tetepisca is one of the largest identified graphite resources globally. Together with strategic technology partnerships and government-supported innovation initiatives, these assets provide the foundation for a secure, scalable and increasingly integrated graphite supply chain.

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