Critical Elements Lithium Receives Certificate of Authorization for the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project in Quebec
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PRESS RELEASE
Critical Elements Lithium Receives Certificate of Authorization for the Rose
Lithium-Tantalum Project in Quebec
November 2 nd , 2022 - MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC – Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V: CRE) (US
OTCQX: CRECF) (FSE: F12) ( "Critical Elements" or the "Corporation" ) is pleased to announce that it
has received the Certificate of Authorization (“ CA ”) pursuant to section 164 of Quebec's Environment
Quality Act for the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project (“ Rose ” or the “ Project ”)) from the Quebec Minister of
the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parcs. The issuance of the CA is an
important milestone that will allow Critical Elements to advance project financing discussions to start mine
construction following the issuance of the mining l ease by the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources an d
Forests (“ MNRF ”). The Corporation was granted a positive federal decision on August 11, 2021, and
therefore has now obtained all main environmental authorizations enabling it to move forward with the Rose
Project. The Corporation also received the approval of the rehabilitation and restoration plan by the MNRF
on May 13, 2022.
As per Chapter II of Quebec's Environment Quality Act , the Environmental and Social Impact Review
Committee (“ Committee ” or “ COMEX ”), an independent body composed of members appoint ed by the
governments of Quebec and the Cree Nation, was resp onsible for the assessment and review of the
environmental and social Impacts of the Rose Project.
We are grateful to Government officials and employe es involved in the authorization process under the
supervision of the Committee, particularly in view of the exceptional circumstances in which the work was
carried out in recent years due to the COVID-19 pan demic. We also thank all the stakeholders, and
particularly the Cree Nation stakeholders, who part icipated in the provincial process and thus helped
improve the Project from both an environmental and social standpoint.
“We are very pleased with the decision regarding th e Rose Lithium-Tantalum Environmental Assessment
process. Critical Elements has made stakeholder relations a priority since the Corporation’s inception. We
are excited about the prospect of moving forward wi th our plans in the James Bay Eeyou Istchee region.
Rose is an important project within the Eeyou Istch ee James Bay territory and I would like to thank al l
parties involved and especially all the Eeyou Istch ee Cree Nation for their dedication and hard work o ver
the past 10 years to achieve this milestone,” stated Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, CEO of Critical Elements.
The Rose Lithium-Tantalum site is located in the No rd-du-Québec administrative region, in the Eeyou
Istchee James Bay territory, more specifically on C ategory III land, on the Traditional Lands of the C ree
Nation of Eastmain. Critical Elements has always considered developing the Project through a sustainable
development approach, taking into account traditional Cree activities and ensuring the promotion of Cr ee
economic and social development. The Cree Nation of Eastmain, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou
Istchee), the Cree Nation Government and Critical E lements signed an Impact and Benefit Agreement,
referred to as the Pikhuutaau Agreement (the “ Pikhuutaau Agreement “), in July 2019. The announcement
of the issuance of the CA will allow the Corporation to begin in a more concrete manner the implementation
of the Pikhuutaau Agreement, which provides for training, employment and business opportunities for the
Crees and particularly the Crees of Eastmain at the Project, as well as for the cooperation and involvement
of the Cree parties with Critical Elements in the environmental monitoring during all phases of the Project.
The Pikhuutaau Agreement also ensures financial ben efits for the Cree parties on a long-term basis,
consistent with the Cree Nation Mining Policy and with Critical Elements’ approach to develop the Project
while ensuring the promotion of Cree economic and social development in a mutually beneficial manner.
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About Critical Elements Lithium Corporation
Critical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle
and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly owned, high
purity Rose lithium project in Québec, the Corporat ion’s first lithium project to be advanced within a land
portfolio of over 700 square kilometers. On June 13 th , 2022, the Corporation announced results of a
feasibility study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The after-tax internal rate of return
for the Project is estimated at 82.4%, with an esti mated after-tax net present value of US$1.9 B at an 8%
discount rate. In the Corporation’s view, Québec is strategically well-positioned for US and EU markets and
boasts good infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 93% hydroelectricity.
For further information, please contact:
Patrick Laperrière
Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Development
514-817-1119
www.cecorp.ca
Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, P. Géo.
Chief Executive Officer
819-354-5146
www.cecorp.ca
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is described in the policies of
the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statements
This news release contains “forward-looking informa tion” within the meaning of Canadian Securities leg islation.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “scheduled”,
“anticipates”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, or “believes”, or variations of such
words and phrases or statements that certain action s, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “migh t” or “will be
taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking i nformation contained herein include, without limita tion, the
completion of the provincial permitting process and its potential positive effects on the Corporation and the Rose
Project, securing sufficient financing on acceptabl e terms and continued positive discussions and rela tionships with
local communities and stakeholders. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management bel ieves to
be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements wil l prove to
be accurate, as actual results and future events co uld differ materially from those anticipated in suc h statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Although Critical Elements 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. Factors that ma y cause actual results to differ materially from ex pected results
described in forward-looking information include, b ut are not limited to: Critical Elements’ ability t o secure sufficient
financing to advance and complete the Rose Project, uncertainties associated with the Corporation’s re source and
reserve estimates, uncertainties regarding global s upply and demand for lithium and tantalum and marke t and sales
prices, uncertainties associated with securing off-take agreements and customer contracts, uncertainties with respect
to social, community and environmental impacts, uncertainties with respect to optimization opportunities for the Rose
Project, as well as those risk factors set out in t he Corporation’s Management Discussion and Analysis for its most
recent quarter ended May 31, 2022 and other disclosure documents available under the Corporation’s SEDAR profile.
Forward-looking information contained herein is mad e as of the date of this news release and Critical Elements
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.