Critical Elements 10,000-Meter Summer Drill Program at Rose West Resumes with Positive Results

MONTRÉAL, QC / ACCESS Newswire / August 12, 2026 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(US OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to provide assay results and an update on its Phase 2 Summer 2026 exploration program, including 10,000 meters of systematic drilling around the 100% owned Rose West Discovery ("Rose West"), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.

The Corporation has deployed two drill rigs to optimize the duration of the program. The drilling strategy is straightforward: based on our current geological model and interpretation, apply a 100 m grid approach to grow the known mineralized volume from its current boundary outward. The program targets the expansion of the mineralized footprint to a potential of approximately 1,250 x 2,000 m and aims to expand the lateral continuity of at least two (2) more mineralized pegmatite bodies within the system.

Highlights

• The Phase 2 Summer 2026 drill program continues to deliver positive results demonstrating the successful expansion of the Rose West mineralized footprint by adding up an additional 300 x 300 m bloc expanding the lateral footprint of Pegmatite 5, 3 and 2, with thicknesses that continue to range from 10 to 30 m.

• Pegmatite 5 is now also delivering substantial and laterally continuous intersections in the northern portion of the Main Target Area, part of a stacked and generally flat lying system.

• The geological model continues to prove to be highly effective and predictive.

• A total of 11 holes were drilled and prepared for assaying while the forest fire situation evolved towards a safe return to site.

Assay results were received for holes RW-26-35A, RW-26-51, RW-26-52 and RW-26-58, and returned some significant lithium and tantalum composite assays, as highlighted below:

• 1.89% Li₂O and 161 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 27.35 m (including 2.70% Li₂O and 222 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 10.50 m and 1.84% Li₂O and 115 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 9.00 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-35A

• 1.23% Li₂O and 227 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 6.45 m (including 1.64% Li₂O and 179 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 4.00 m), through Pegmatite 5, in hole RW-26-51 and

• 1.58% Li₂O and 118 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 16.85 m, through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-51

• 1.00% Li₂O and 88 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 19.40 m (including 1.11% Li₂O and 176 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 6.70 m and 1.43% Li₂O and 83 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 4.00 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-52

• 1.33% Li₂O and 145 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 14.05 m (including 1.81% Li₂O and 122 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 9.00 m), through Pegmatite 5, in hole RW-26-58.

  * Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.

Located approximately 10 km to the west of the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project ("Rose"), Rose West is a near surface lithium-rich pegmatite bearing zone, initially intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024, now covering an overall footprint of 1,250 m x 800 m (see Press Release dated June 9, 2026), a six-fold increase in surface expression. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 m in thickness and together display a sub-horizontal stacked geometry. Recent drilling has identified three (3) new spodumene-bearing pegmatitic bodies within the target area. The Phase 2 Summer 2026 drill program is designed to further expand this mineralized footprint, and to better define the geometry and extent of the three new mineralized pegmatites intersected during the Winter 2026 Campaign.

The Summer 2026 drill program is designed to reach three (3) specific goals:

1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint;

2. Infill drilling along Line C (Figure 1), to confirm grade and thickness continuity of the intersected pegmatites;

3. Follow up on both newly discovered mineralized pegmatites (6 and 7) below the current extent of mineralization.

Figure 1: Location map of drillholes from the winter 2024 and winter 2026 campaigns and proposed Summer 2026 drillholes.

To date, eleven (11) holes were drilled in the NE corner of the Main Target Area for a total of 2,073 meters. Figure 1 above shows the location of these holes, which are designed to intersect all three principal pegmatites, i.e., Pegmatite 5 (new), 3 (Main), and Pegmatite 2. Table 1 below presents the collar coordinates, the planned length and the orientation of each of the holes drilled to date.

Table 1 - 2026 Summer drillhole locations and summary descriptions.

The following Table 2 presents the composite assay results received to date, and the intervals of anticipated mineralization along the other holes drilled during this current campaign. New and updated results presented in the current press release are highlighted in grey.