Mr. Mirco Wojnarowicz reports

ROCK TECH LITHIUM AWARDED $262,500 FROM ONTARIO'S CRITICAL MINERALS INNOVATION FUND TO ADVANCE MADE-IN-ONTARIO LITHIUM SUPPLY CHAIN

Rock Tech Lithium Inc. has been awarded $262,500 through Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) to evaluate the use of crude tall oil, a byproduct of Ontario's pulp and paper industry, as potentially locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium processing.

Highlights:

• Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund has awarded Rock Tech $262,500 to evaluate and validate the use of locally sourced crude tall oil, a byproduct of Ontario's pulp and paper sector, as a potential flotation reagent for lithium processing, supporting supply chain development and cross-sector collaboration.
• The project will be completed in collaboration with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University, bringing together Ontario-based industrial supply, critical minerals development and research expertise.
• The project aims to connect Ontario's forestry and critical minerals sectors by creating a potential new market for forestry-derived products in lithium processing.
• The project is intended to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could support more localized reagent supply, provide data for future technical and economic optimization work and reduce reliance on imported or conventional processing inputs.
• The project is intended to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could, if successfully validated, support more localized and potentially lower-emission battery and critical minerals supply chains, including supply chains relevant to advanced manufacturing and energy storage applications, support future technical and economic optimization work and reduce reliance on imported or conventional processing inputs.
• The initiative supports Rock Tech's broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, including the Georgia Lake lithium project and the proposed Red Rock lithium converter, strengthening a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain while creating new opportunities across multiple sectors of the provincial economy.
• This marks Rock Tech's second CMIF-supported initiative, following its previously announced ore-sorting program, which identified a potential pathway to reduce future crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to 50 per cent based on preliminary test work on representative Georgia Lake material and subject to further engineering, validation and integration into future technical studies.
• This project will also evaluate further opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and strengthen the economics of the Georgia Lake project.

Crude tall oil may have potential application in mineral flotation processes used during processing to separate lithium-bearing minerals from waste rock, with the objective of improving processing efficiency while supporting a more localized supply chain by leveraging a pulp and paper byproduct. This byproduct produced by Ontario's pulp and paper sector and could serve as a new way for Ontario's pulp and paper industry to monetize this output while enhancing the sustainability and affordability of lithium processing in Ontario, if successfully validated and incorporated into future project design.

Similar to Rock Tech's recently announced completion of its CMIF-supported ore-sorting program (refer to press release titled "Rock Tech Advances Georgia Lake Lithium Project, Identifies Potential Pathway to Reduce Processing CAPEX by Up to 50 per cent," dated May 19, 2026), this project is designed to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could support future processing efficiency, reduce reliance on imported or conventional reagents and inform future cost-optimization work for the Georgia Lake project.

Strengthening Ontario's critical minerals supply chain through innovation

The project arrives at an important moment for Ontario's critical minerals sector as the Province of Ontario has identified the development of domestic critical minerals supply chains as a strategic priority, including supply chains supporting advanced manufacturing and energy storage.

The use of crude tall oil as a flotation reagent represents an opportunity to connect two strategically important Ontario industries. By evaluating whether a byproduct from the province's forestry sector can be utilized in lithium processing, the project seeks to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of domestic critical minerals production while creating additional value from existing industrial supply chains.

"We're proud to have the continued support of the government of Ontario through this latest intake of the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund," said Mirco Wojnarowicz, chief executive officer of Rock Tech. "The future of critical minerals competitiveness will be driven not only by what we mine, but by how we process and innovate. This project brings together Ontario's strengths in critical minerals, forestry and research to evaluate a practical solution that could reduce emissions, strengthen project economics and create new opportunities for domestic industry. It demonstrates how innovation can help build a more resilient critical minerals supply chain -- here in Canada and among allied countries."

Government, industry and research working together

With support from the Province of Ontario through the CMIF, Rock Tech and its project partners will evaluate a practical innovation with direct commercial application. The initiative brings together public investment, industrial expertise and research capacity to explore technologies that may improve competitiveness while supporting the development of cleaner and more efficient processing methods.

"Northwestern Ontario has the people, resources and expertise needed to lead the next generation of critical mineral development. This investment will help strengthen connections between our mining and forestry sectors while supporting innovation right here in our region," said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. "I'm pleased to see Rock Tech, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, and Queen's University working together on a project that has the potential to create new opportunities for local industry and strengthen Ontario's critical mineral supply chain. Investments through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund are helping ensure that the economic benefits of resource development stay in Northern Ontario, creating jobs and supporting long-term growth for our communities."

"This CMIF investment supports an ongoing collaboration between the Critical Minerals Processing Lab at Queen's University and Rock Tech, advancing lithium process development in Ontario," said Charlotte Gibson, assistant professor and associate head at Queen's University's Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining. "We are excited to continue working with Rock Tech on this important initiative, which has the potential to establish local reagent supply chains, improving the sustainability and resilience of lithium production in the province."

The project also highlights the growing opportunity to strengthen ties between Ontario's natural resource sectors. By creating potential new demand for forestry-derived products within critical minerals processing, the initiative will support the province's industrial diversification, domestic supply chains and economic prosperity.

Supporting Rock Tech's Ontario mine-to-converter strategy

The project forms part of Rock Tech's broader Ontario strategy, which includes the Georgia Lake project and the proposed Red Rock converter in Northwestern Ontario.

Together, these projects are intended to support a vertically integrated, made-in-Ontario lithium supply chain linking domestic resource development with downstream processing capacity. As demand for battery materials continues to grow across North America and Europe, including supporting an expanding range of capabilities in the defence sector, innovative initiatives like this may help strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and long-term resilience of Ontario's critical minerals sector and broader economy.

Technical disclosure

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cameron Andrews, PEng, general manager, Canada, for Rock Tech Lithium, a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The project described in this news release is intended to evaluate crude tall oil, a byproduct of Ontario's pulp and paper industry, as a potential flotation reagent for lithium processing. No new mineral resource estimate, mineral reserve estimate, metallurgical test results, preliminary economic assessment, prefeasibility study or feasibility study are being disclosed in this news release. The potential processing applications and benefits described herein are preliminary in nature and remain subject to completion of test work, validation and further engineering review.

The reference to the company's previously announced ore-sorting program and the potential pathway to reduce future crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to 50 per cent is based on the company's prior disclosure dated May 19, 2026, and remains subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations described therein. No new ore-sorting test results or updated capital cost estimates are being disclosed in this news release.

About Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

Rock Tech is enabling the battery age by making the battery industries in Europe and North America more independent and competitive. The company's goal is to ensure the supply of high-quality, locally produced lithium -- supporting a resilient, sustainable and transparent value chain from mine to battery-grade material.

Rock Tech relies on responsible sourcing, state-of-the-art and proven technologies, and a clear focus on circular economy principles. The company's lithium converter projects in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM (lithium hydroxide monohydrate) per year), and Ontario, Canada (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE (lithium carbonate equivalent) per year), form the foundation for a stable and regional supply to the battery and automotive industries. The Guben converter has been recognized as a strategic project under the European Union Critical Raw Materials Act.

The raw materials for Rock Tech's converter projects are intended to be sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant (environmental, social and governance) suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly owned Georgia Lake project, which ensures a stable and sustainable supply for the North American market and is being developed in close partnership with local indigenous communities. By integrating recycled materials, the company aims to close the local battery loop.

With its facilities, Rock Tech intends to contribute to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers and community groups and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards.

We seek Safe Harbor.