Avalon Advanced Materials Engages Rachel Bridge as Interim Consultant to Facilitate Lake Superior Lithium Inc. Feasibility Study Engineering
Avalon Advanced Materials Engages Rachel
Bridge as Interim Consultant to Facilitate Lake
Superior Lithium Inc. Feasibility Study
Engineering
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 17, 2026) -
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(TSX: AVL)
( OTCQB: AVLNF) ("
Avalon
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce that Rachel Bridge, CEO of
Laira Consulting Services, has been engaged to support the advancement of the Company's Lake
Superior Lithium ("
LSLi
") Project on an interim basis until the Company employs a full-time Project
Director. Ms. Bridge will be Avalon's representative in coordinating with Nordmin Engineering to
advance Avalon's LSLi Feasibility Study that has commenced.
Rachel brings specialized experience driving the execution of technical and industrial projects across the
critical minerals and resource development sectors and through Laira Consulting Services, she provides
independent consulting support in project execution, coordination, and technical advisory services. This
engagement is intended to support the progression of engineering activities at the LSLi Project as it
advances from the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment into the Feasibility Study phase, with Ms.
Bridge working alongside Nordmin and Metso as work gets underway.
Ms. Bridge has worked with organizations across the mining and industrial value chain, contributing to
initiatives related to project planning, operational support, and stakeholder coordination. Her experience
spans early-stage and advancing projects such as Avalon's where clear communication, technical
understanding, and disciplined execution are critical to progress.
"Engaging Ms. Bridge to work with alongside Nordmin Engineering will accelerate development,
mitigate risk, and secure project financing," said Avalon President and CEO Scott Monteith.
"The Lake Superior Lithium Project is entering a critical phase as it advances from the 2024 Preliminary
Economic Assessment into detailed Feasibility Study engineering. As the project progresses, we are
thrilled to come aboard and prioritize cost certainty, constructability, and risk reduction to position LSLi
for construction readiness and long-term operational success within North America's lithium supply
chain," said Rachel Bridge, CEO of Laira Consulting Services.
LSLi PEA Project Highlights:
After-tax Net Present Value of Cdn $4.1 billion at an 8% discount rate and an after-tax Internal Rate
of Return of 48% over a 30-year operating mine life, based on annual production of approximately
30,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
LSLi is positioned to deliver a state-of-the-art lithium hydroxide conversion facility, supplying
battery-grade material to the rapidly growing EV and energy-storage sectors.
Located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the project benefits from existing road, rail, deep-water port,
power, and municipal infrastructure, supporting accelerated development timelines and reduced
execution risk.
The plant will use Metso's advanced, lower-carbon processing technology to produce 30,000 tpa
of lithium hydroxide. A full Feasibility Study is underway with Nordmin Engineering and Primero
North America, selected for their extensive experience with the Metso Process.
Completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment in September 2024 demonstrating strong
project economics, supporting advancement into the Feasibility Study phase.
Advancing with a strong focus on environmental responsibility, social accountability, and sound
governance. Sustainability features include on-site renewable energy integration and responsible
by-product utilization, supporting Canada's climate objectives and Ontario's clean-growth
priorities.
About Laira Consulting Services
Laira Consulting Services provides Process Support and Study Management for the mining industry,
with extensive experience in lithium and REE projects. The firm assists clients with testwork planning,
technical support, and study execution, helping projects progress with clear, practical, and defensible
technical foundations.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian critical minerals company advancing the supply of
materials essential for Canada's future. The Company is focused on developing strategic assets that
support secure, domestic supply chains and long-term economic growth. Avalon is advancing the
Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements and Zirconium Project in the Northwest Territories, which contains all
light and heavy rare earth elements, as well as yttrium, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium-critical minerals
used in advanced technologies across the communications, defense, clean tech, and energy sectors.
The Company is also focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain through the
development of Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing
facility, located in Thunder Bay. This facility will serve as a vital link between northern Ontario's lithium
resources and the growing EV battery manufacturing base in southern Ontario and North America.
Through a joint venture with SCR Sibelco NV, Avalon is advancing the Separation Rapids Lithium
Project near Kenora, Ontario, as well as continuing exploration at its Snowbank lithium and Lilypad
lithium-cesium deposits.
For further information regarding Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., please visit
www.avalonadvancedmaterials.com
, or call 416-364-4938.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-
looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does
not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating",
"estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves",
"increase", "intends", "justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "robust", "scheduled",
"suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state
that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information, including those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated November 28, 2024 (the
"AIF") under the heading "Description of the Business - Risk Factors". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions,
estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected
developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such
statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in
such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can
give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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