Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 7, 2026) -  Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce that it has initiated work to relocate the processing plant in Namibia to the Okanjande mine site as it advances plans to restart production in late 2027.

To support these activities, Northern has awarded a contract to Rotary Engineering Services, based in Namibia, to dismantle the remaining plant infrastructure at the former Okorusu site and transport it to the Okanjande mine site for reassembly. The work is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026, subject to normal execution conditions.

The contract marks the next step toward resuming production at Okanjande to position the operation to supply flake graphite feedstock to the Company's planned Battery Anode Material ("BAM") plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"This is a tangible step forward for Northern as we prepare to restart production at Okanjande," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "It puts us on a clear path toward supplying our planned joint venture BAM facility in Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is targeted for initial production in 2028, supporting Northern's broader mine-to-battery strategy."

In August 2023, Northern announced the results of a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") evaluating the relocation of its Namibian processing plant from Okorusu to the Okanjande mine site, rather than rehabilitating the mill at its existing location. The PEA, issued July 31, 2023 and prepared by CREO Engineering Solutions, confirmed the technical and economic viability of the approach. By relocating the plant, Northern expects to reduce operating costs by eliminating the need to transport mineralized material over long distances. The relocation also improves overall project sustainability, reduces greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, and significantly enhances the project's expansion potential. The Company is also evaluating other measures to improve sustainability at Okanjande, including the potential use of solar power and the incorporation of dry tailings into an integrated waste landform to reduce overall water consumption.

The Okanjande operation is currently on care and maintenance, with a targeted restart of production in late 2027, subject to financing. Graphite produced from Okanjande is expected to supply both traditional industrial markets, including refractory applications for steelmaking, heat management in electronics, and friction products for the automotive sector, as well as the growing national security and battery materials markets.

"Okanjande has a large resource located in one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, with easy access to a deep-water port which provides substantial competitive advantages over most other African projects," said Mr. Jacquemin. "Okanjande will allow us to move more quickly to serve the fast-growing market for battery anode materials, with the potential to expand the facilities as these markets develop."

Consulting Agreement

Northern is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a consulting agreement dated May 1, 2026 with Jackson Stafford (the "Consultant"). Under the terms of the agreement, the Consultant will assist the Company with certain investor relations related activities to present the Company and its business plans, strategy and personnel to the financial community, including communicating with investment dealers and advisors, portfolio managers, analysts and media contacts, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and applicable securities laws.

The agreement is for a term of four months. In consideration for the services, the Company will pay the Consultant a fee of $5,000 per month. No securities will be issued to the Consultant as compensation. The Consultant is an arm's length service provider based in Toronto, Ontario with experience in business development and client services in the financial sector oriented towards mining companies. The Consultant does not currently own any securities of Northern. The agreement is subject to acceptance by the TSXV.

About Northern Graphite

Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is the only flake graphite producing company in North America. Northern is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Group, which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt and is focused on advancing plans for developing battery anode material plants in Saudi Arabia, Quebec and France.

Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, where the Company is boosting output to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek graphite project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia, which is currently on care and maintenance, and represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.

For Additional Information

Please visit the Company's website at northerngraphite.com, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia and develop downstream processing capacity in North America, Europe and the Middle East. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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