Critical Elements expands 10,000-meter summer drill program at Rose West

MONTRÉAL, QC / ACCESS Newswire / July 6, 2026 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ( "Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the details of its Phase 2: Summer 2026 drill program, including 10,000 meters of systematic drilling around the 100% owned Rose West Discovery (" Rose West "), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec. ************** IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE FOREST FIRES SITUATION Critical Elements announces that it has temporarily evacuated the camp at Rose West Project and suspended all drilling and related exploration activities following the development of a forest fire proximal to the project camp and drills and after discussion with SOPFEU (Société de protection des forêts contre le feu) due to increasing wildland fire danger in the area. "The health and safety of our contractors is our highest priority," said Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, CEO of Critical Elements. "The Corporation will continue to monitor conditions closely and will resume exploration activities when authorities determine it is safe to do so." Chair of the Board of Directors Eric Zaunscherb added, "Although we are excited to see the 2026 Summer drill program at Rose West unfold, crew safety and stewardship of the land we work on are paramount.

Shareholders should also be aware of the intense hard work and time spent by management over the last week in protecting our investment in equipment and supplies in and around the camp." Information pertaining to the status of the forest fires in Quebec can be found HERE : https://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/current-situation/ . ************** The Winter 2026 drilling program was very successful in expanding the lateral footprint of the known mineralized pegmatites and in identifying new lithium-tantalum bearing pegmatites in both the hanging wall and footwall of the main Pegm