CRE.V · 2026-05-04 12:00:00

Critical Elements’ 10,000-METRE Drill Program at Rose WEST Continues to Deliver Positive Results

Exploration Programs

PRESS RELEASE

CRITICAL ELEMENTS’ 10,000-METRE DRILL PROGRAM AT ROSE WEST CONTINUES TO

DELIVER POSITIVE RESULTS

May 4th, 2026 - MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC – 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 1 Winter 2026 drill program , at the 100% owned Rose West Discovery (“Rose

West”), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec.

Highlights

• The Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program continues to deliver positive results demonstrating the

successful expansion of the Rose West mineralized footprint from 450 m x 370 m to 1,250 m x 800

m, thicknesses that typically range from 10 to 40 m, and excellent lateral continuity.

• Newly discovered Pegmatite 5 is delivering substantial and laterally continuous intersections in the

southern 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 productive.

• An additional nineteen holes have been completed with assays pending from four holes.

• A technical webinar is planned for Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 11:00 am EST (link following).

Assay results were received for holes RW-26-34, and RW-26-41, and returned some significant lithium and

tantalum composite assays, as highlighted below:

• 1.19% Li2O and 167 ppm Ta 2O5 over 14.50 m (including 1.41% Li 2O and 170 ppm Ta 2O5 over

12.20 m), through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-34

• 1.51% Li2O and 93 ppm Ta2O5 over 18.50 m (including 2.49% Li2O and 50 ppm Ta2O5 over 9.60

m), through Pegmatite 5 (new), and

• 0.89% Li2O and 175 ppm Ta2O5 over 10.00 m, through Pegmatite 3, in hole RW-26-41

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

Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced 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 (see Press Release dated April 29, 2026), now covering an overall

footprint of 1,250 m x 800 m. The lithium-rich pegmatites typically range from 10 to 40 m in thickness and

display a sub-horizontal geometry. Recent drilling has identified three (3) new spodumene -bearing

pegmatitic bodies within the target area; a significant addition to the working model as it could potentially

lead to rapid growth of the mineral inventory within the footprint of the project.

Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, CEO of the Corporation, noted, “We are very pleased with our 2026 drill program

to date. The program is demonstrating the efficacy of our geological model and significant growth in the

Rose West mineralized footprint, which in turn may have a significant impact on the economic value of our

flagship Rose project. Assembling the project financing leading to a final investment decision for Rose, one

of the most advanced hardrock lithium projects in North America, remains our primary goal. Demonstrating

the potential scale of Rose and its satellite Rose Wes t is, however, a cost-effective value driver for Critical

Elements, its shareholders, and the citizens of Eeyou Istchee, the Province of Québec, and Canada.”

To date, the Winter 2026 drill program has covered most of the Line A, Line E and Line K planned holes

(Figure 1). As previously mentioned, holes were planned to reach three specific goals:

1. Expand laterally all around the existing mineralized footprint (RW-26-29 to 34, RW-26-45 & 46);

2. Test the area for continuity to the northeast (RW-26-47 to 50), to the southeast (RW-26-40 to 44);

3. Verify the potential of discovering additional lithium-bearing pegmatites below the currently defined

area.

Figure 1 below presents the 2026 collars location with, as well as the revised footprint on surface of the

interpreted spodumene-rich pegmatitic dykes. Nineteen (19) holes have been drilled to date for a total of

4,037.75 meters. Table 1 presents the collar locations along with final length and the azimuth / dip of the

holes drilled during this campaign.

Figure 1: Location map of the 2026 drillholes with respect to those from the winter 2024 campaign.

Drillhole Grid UTM NAD 83 ZN18 Length Azimuth Dip

Position Easting Northing (m) () ()

RW-26-29 E-08 411277 5763656 207 245 -80

RW-26-30 E-06 411195 5763599 72 245 -70

RW-26-31 K-10 411129 5764041 126 245 -70

RW-26-32 K-11 411211 5764098 165 245 -70

RW-26-33 K-12 411293 5764156 287.7 245 -70

RW-26-34 K-13 411375 5764213 147 245 -70

RW-26-38 C-16 411965 5763893 218.9 245 -70

RW-26-39 A-08 411506 5763328 262.35 245 -70

RW-26-40 A-11 411670 5763443 195 245 -70

RW-26-41 A-13 411834 5763558 218.5 245 -70

RW-26-42 A-15 411998 5763673 9 245 -70

RW-26-43 A-17 412162 5763788 264 245 -70

RW-26-44 A-21 412489 5764017 301.9 245 -70

RW-26-45 E-14 411686 5763943 277.3 245 -80

RW-26-46 E-15 411768 5764000 222 245 -80

RW-26-47 E-17 411932 5764115 194.3 245 -70

RW-26-48 E-19 412096 5764230 207 245 -70

RW-26-49 E-21 412260 5764345 255 245 -70

RW-26-50 E-23 412423 5764459 407.8 245 -70

Table 1 – 2026 Winter drillholes location and summary description

Table 2 following 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.

Holes RW-26-31 to RW-26-34 were drilled along Line K, at the northern boundary of the target area; Assay

results are now available for hole RW-26-34. This group of holes by itself extends the northern boundary

of the main Pegmatite 3 footprint area by some 500 x 100 meters yet showing an average thickness of 15

meters.

Covering an area of 500 m x 600 m, drilling to the south (RW -26-38 to RW -26-44) also intersected two

significant pegmatites interpreted to be Pegmatite 5 (new) and Pegmatite 3; they show a thickness still in

the range of 10-15 meters. Assay results from hole RW-26-41 confirms the high-grade nature of the newly

interpreted Pegmatite 5 over a larger interval than along Line K (18.50 m compared to 10.50 m) confirming

grade continuity and suggesting that the zone thickness has significantly increased toward the south,

Pegmatite 3 zone also demonstrates continuity in grade over to the south area, maintaining 0. 89% Li 2O

over the 10.00 m interval.

Assay results for the remaining 4 holes are not yet available but are anticipated to reflect the concentration

of spodumene observed in the core.

Drillhole From To Length Li2O Ta2O5 Zone

(m) (m) (m) (%) (ppm)

RW-26-29 12.60 16.20 3.60 1.51 242 4

176.95 192.00 15.05 0.77 170 6 (new)

including 180.00 188.00 8.00 1.39 111 6 (new)

RW-26-30 3.45 6.40 2.95 0.40 239 4

RW-26-31 54.00 60.50 6.50 0.15 191 3

96.00 101.85 5.85 0.58 170 2

RW-26-32 39.00 52.50 13.50 1.89 207 3

105.10 110.85 5.75 0.79 208 n.a

116.90 118.25 1.35 0.18 23 n.a

RW-26-33 60.35 78.10 17.75 1.29 169 3

including 63.00 72.00 9.00 2.13 105 3

122.05 123.60 1.55 0.01 432 2

RW-26-34 37.00 51.50 14.50 1.19 167 3

including 37.00 49.20 12.20 1.41 170 3

RW-26-38 71.65 85.6 13.95 Pending results 5 (new)

194.25 208.9 14.65 Pending results 2

RW-26-39 68.65 71.35 2.70 Pending results 5 (new)

112.00 126.50 14.50 Pending results 3

132.15 137.50 5.35 Pending results n.a.

RW-26-40 26.20 27.90 1.70 Pending results n.a

55.90 67.10 11.20 Pending results 5 (new)

104.40 120.00 15.60 Pending results 3

150.40 155.30 4.90 Pending results n.a

RW-26-41 68.55 87.05 18.50 1.51 93 5 (new)

including 68.55 78.15 9.60 2.49 50 5 (new)

112.00 122.00 10.00 0.89 175 3

189.70 192.85 3.15 0.02 258 n.a

RW-26-42 - 9.00 Abandoned

RW-26-43 204.95 211.20 6.25 Pending results 2

RW-26-44 - 301.90 No significant results

RW-26-45 113.20 141.00 27.80 1.27 111 3

including 119.00 141.00 22.00 1.43 122 3

163.25 175.90 12.65 1.00 192 2

RW-26-46 70.60 81.05 10.45 0.93 291 5 (new)

including 72.00 75.00 3.00 2.75 553 5 (new)

125.60 138.20 12.60 2.18 68 3

including 126.60 134.00 7.40 3.11 48 3

168.20 182.80 14.60 1.82 176 2

Including 168.20 178.70 10.50 2.42 146 2

RW-26-47 69.30 79.60 10.30 1.72 117 5 (new)

Including 70.25 76.60 6.35 2.61 117 5 (new)

140.15 151.90 11.75 1.91 74 3

165.25 175.60 10.35 1.44 266 n.a

188.05 193.25 5.20 1.68 101 2

RW-26-48 130.50 138.60 8.10 0.59 200 3

168.65 175.90 7.25 0.03 156 2

RW-26-49 158.55 160.65 2.10 0.01 110 3

RW-26-50 328.20 341.10 12.90 1.13 109 7 (new)

Including 328.20 335.45 7.25 1.67 108 7 (new)

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

** Zone; n.a refers to “not assigned” to a given interpreted mineralized zone.

*** New and updated results are highlighted in grey.

Table 2 – Spodumene-rich pegmatite intervals and assay results from the Winter 2026 drill campaign.

Figure 2: Vertical section – Line A; looking northwest

Photos 2A and 2C show a new pegmatitic zone (Zone 5), and photos 2B and 2D are examples of the main

pegmatite (Zone 3) aspect in core.

Figure 3: Vertical section – Line E; looking northwest

Photo 3A from hole RW-26-45 represents the widest intersection of the current campaign. Photo 3B is an

example of Zone 2. Photos 3C and 3D show the new Zone 5 and Zone 7 respectively.

Figure 4: Vertical section – Line K; looking northeast

Core photos 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E are all examples of the main Zone 3 pegmatite. Photo 4C presents a thinner

intersection through Zone 2.

The Winter 2026 drill campaign ended April 3rd, and assay results for about two-thirds of the samples sent

to the laboratory are now available and presented in the current press release. The campaign has already

proven to be successful by demonstrating the lateral continuity of the mineralization, and interpretation of

the mineralized model has been completed to the extent of the available data. Figure 5 below shows a 3D

view looking up -plunge along the shallow structural corridor defined by aplitic dykes. The sub-horizontal

pegmatites dykes are believed to be in an extensional position and distributed in a “en echelon” pattern

within a much wider regional structural framework.

Figure 5: 3D view – looking southwest

Podcast

Join Critical Elements CEO Jean -Sébastien Lavallée and Director of Exploration Ken Williamson on

Wednesday May 6 , 2026 at 11:00 am EST as they discuss recent assays results and the ongoing

exploration program.

Quality assurance/quality control

Quality assurance and quality control procedures have been implemented to ensure best practices in

sampling and analysis of the drill core samples. Standards, duplicate and blanks were regularly inserted

into the sample stream. The drill core samples were delivered, in secure tagged bags to the ALS Minerals

laboratory facility in Val-d’Or, Québec. The samples are weighed and identified prior to sample preparation.

The samples are crushed to 70% minus 2 mm, then separated and pulverized to 85% passing 75 μm. All

samples are analyzed using sodium peroxide fusion ME -MS-89L, with full analysis for 52 elements. Value

over 25,000 ppm Li were re -assays using Li -ICP-82b and value over 2,500 ppm Ta 2O5 were re-assays

using Ta-XRF10.

Qualified Person

Kenneth Williamson, Géo, M.Sc. Director of Exploration at Critical Elements , is the Qualified Person that

has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Corporation.

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-Tantalum project in Québec, the Corporation’s first lithium project to be advanced within

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