Mr. Karl Kottmeier reports

EMP METALS APPROVED FOR UP TO $3.2 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM NGEN FOR PROJECT AURORA

Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), the industry-led organization behind Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing, has approved up to $3.2-million in funding for EMP Metals Corp.'s Project Aurora.

EMP, in partnership with Saltworks Technologies Inc. on Project Aurora, will demonstrate an integrated, continuous-flow lithium refining system from raw brine to battery-grade chemicals. The project is designed to simplify lithium production, reduce costs and derisk scale-up through system-level integration.

Saltworks will design, build and operate a modular hub and spoke demonstration plant integrated with EMP Metals' horizontal lithium well and brine handling infrastructure at the Viewfield asset in Saskatchewan. The wellhead-connected production spokes will convert raw brine into a refined, low-volume, lithium-rich solution, which will then be transported to a central conversion facility at Saltworks HQ for final processing into battery-grade chemicals.

"Project Aurora exemplifies the innovative, system-level integration that Canada's advanced manufacturing sector needs to build resilient domestic supply chains for critical minerals," said Jayson Myers, chief executive officer of NGen. "By supporting this collaboration between EMP Metals and Saltworks, NGen is helping to derisk and accelerate the development of next-generation lithium-refining technologies that will strengthen Canada's position in the global energy materials market while driving economic growth in Saskatchewan and beyond."

Karl Kottmeier, chief executive officer of EMP Metals, said: "Canada is expanding its lithium production to secure domestic and global supply chains by leveraging lithium brine technologies and refining projects like Project Aurora. NGen's financial support is integral to Canada's competitiveness and our project -- one of the first direct-wellhead-connected, continuous-flow demonstration plants in the country. We appreciate NGen's endorsement of our project as we forge ahead with Saltworks to build and operate our lithium-refining facility."

Project Aurora is a joint initiative between EMP Metals and Saltworks Technologies aimed at simplifying lithium brine refining, reducing costs and derisking scale-up through a fully integrated system spanning from wellhead to battery-grade lithium products. As part of the collaborative's launch, Saltworks will advance full-scale plant design and cost estimates for a 3,000-plus-tonne-per-year modular, repeatable commercial refinery for EMP Metals, utilizing data and insights from the demo plant project.

About EMP Metals Corp.

EMP is a Canadian-based lithium exploration and development company focused on large-scale resources using direct lithium extraction (DLE). EMP currently holds over 205,000 net acres (83,000 hectares) of subsurface dispositions and strategic wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan.

We seek Safe Harbor.