Mr. Karl Kottmeier reports

PROJECT AURORA LITHIUM DEMONSTRATION PLANT EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS AND RUNNING AUTONOMOUSLY

EMP Metals Corp. has shared an update from its valued partner, Saltworks Technologies Inc., that the Project Aurora lithium demonstration plant is exceeding performance metrics and running autonomously. Unlike other batch pilots or indirect lithium transfers, Project Aurora is a direct, wellhead-connected, continuous-flow, fully automated demo plant that combines the company's leading Canadian lithium brine resource and horizontal lithium well with Saltworks' Generation 2 direct lithium extraction lithium-refining flow sheet.

"The successful operation of Project Aurora represents an important milestone in EMP Metals' strategy to unlock the value of our Saskatchewan lithium assets," said Karl Kottmeier, chief executive officer of EMP Metals. "The ability to continuously process lithium brine directly from the wellhead under fully automated operating conditions provides a level of technical validation and operational understanding that is difficult to achieve through conventional pilot testing. The results continue to strengthen our confidence in Saskatchewan's potential as a globally competitive lithium-producing jurisdiction."

Project Aurora is providing valuable data to prove durability, lower processing costs, and increase lithium purity and recovery relative to conventional DLE-based lithium refining systems. Leveraging the valuable and extensive automation and data, coupled with direct wellhead connection learnings, Saltworks has filed four additional patent applications since start-up, demonstrating the value of real, fully integrated wellhead continuous-flow operations.

The foundational Generation 2 DLE and digitally optimized lithium brine-to-battery-chemical system slashes downstream processing costs by boosting lithium chloride purity to over 90 per cent at the DLE exit through a novel processing method utilizing off-the-shelf components and advanced materials. The same process elements are already built into Saltworks' full-scale industrial desalination plants and manufactured today at scale for the company's industrial desalination projects.

Overseeing Project Aurora's operations is Saltworks' HydraOS intelligent plant operating system, transforming conventional process control into a continuously learning and optimizing thinking machine. Saltworks' HydraOS and RoboSense ion-specific sampler digitally integrate and optimize the entire system, with the plant achieving lights-out unattended continuous-flow autonomous operation in October.

HydraOS was developed to intelligently integrate and optimize multiple unit operations harmoniously while maximizing recovery, uptime and operating efficiency. Saltworks' RoboSense technology delivers automated, real-time ion-specific measurements, providing critical process data to inform operational adjustments and optimize lithium recovery. By combining intelligent automation, advanced sensing and advanced process control, Aurora demonstrates Saltworks' approach to developing increasingly autonomous process plants that adapt to changing conditions, reduce labour constraints and improve operational performance.

These developments reflect the untapped potential for lithium in North America and why off-site batch pilots with less automation holdback innovation that drives down capital cost intensity and genuine commercial derisking. Project Aurora represents an important step toward commercial lithium development in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan lithium basin is set to become Canada's most competitive lithium production opportunity. Saskatchewan already leads in global potash (primarily potassium chloride) production (31 per cent of global output), leveraging its geological advantage of clean salt in the ground, solution mining capabilities, excellent surface infrastructure and low-cost power. All the above align with competitive lithium chloride production, which can be converted to battery chemicals.

About EMP Metals Corp.

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

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The technical content on this website has been reviewed and approved by Greg Bronson, PGeo, a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Bronson is not independent as he is a director of the company.

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