EMP Metals approved for $3.2M in funding from NGen
Tel: 604-689-7422 204 – 252 Esplanade West, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0E9
EMP METALS APPROVED FOR UP TO $3.2 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM
NGEN FOR PROJECT AURORA
Vancouver, British Columbia, April 15, 2026 – EMP Metals Corp. (CSE: EMPS) (OTCQB: EMPPF)
(FSE: 9ST) (“EMP Metals” or the “Company ”) is pleased to announce that Next Generation
Manufacturing Canada ( “NGen”), the industry -led organization behind Canada’s Global
Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing, has approved up to $3.2 million in funding for
Project Aurora.
EMP, in partnership with Saltworks Technologies Inc. (“Saltworks”) on Project Aurora, will
demonstrate an integrated, continuous -flow lithium refining system from raw brine to
battery-grade chemicals. The project is designed to simplify lithium production, reduce costs, and
de-risk scale-up through system-level integration.
Saltworks will design, build , and operate a modular hub -and-spoke demonstration plant
integrated with EMP Metals’ horizontal lithium well and brine handling infrastructure at the
Viewfield asset in Saskatchewan. The wellhead -connected production spokes will convert raw
brine into a refined, low volume, lithium-rich solution, which will then be transported to a central
conversion facility at Saltworks HQ for final processing into battery-grade chemicals.
“Project Aurora exemplifies the innovative, system- level integration that Canada’s advanced
manufacturing sector needs to build resilient domestic supply chains for critical minerals.”, said
Jayson Myers, CEO, NGen. “By supporting this collaboration between EMP Metals and Saltworks,
NGen is helping to de -risk and accelerate the development of next- generation lithium refining
technologies that will strengthen Canada’s position in the global energy materials market while
driving economic growth in Saskatchewan and beyond.”
Karl Kottmeier, CEO of EMP Metals, said, “ Canada is expanding its lithium production to secure
domestic and global supply chains by leveraging lithium brine technologies and refining projects
like Project Aurora. NGen’s financial support is integral to Canada’s competitiveness and our
project—one of the first direct wellhead connected, continuous flow demonstration plants in the
country. We appreciate NGen’s endorsement of our project as we forge ahead with Saltworks
to build and operate our lithium refining facility.”
Project Aurora is a joint initiative between EMP Metals Corp. and Saltworks Technologies aimed
at simplifying lithium brine refining, reducing costs, and de -risking scale -up through a fully
integrated system spanning from wellhead to battery -grade lithium products. As part of the
collaborative’s launch, Saltworks will advance full- scale plant design and cost estimates for a
3,000+ tonne per year modular, repeatable commercial refinery for EMP Metals , utilizing data
and insights from the demo plant project.
Tel: 604-689-7422 204 – 252 Esplanade West, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0E9
About NGen
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is the industry -led, non -government not -for-
profit organization leading Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing.
NGen connects manufacturers, technology developers, researchers, developers and
policymakers across Canada’s advanced ma nufacturing ecosystem. T he organization works to
accelerate the commercialization of advanced manufacturing technologies and strengthen
Canada’s industrial competitiveness.
About EMP Metals
EMP is a Canadian-based lithium exploration and development company focused on large -scale
resources using direct lithium extraction (DLE). EMP currently holds over 205,000 net acres
(83,000 hectares) of Subsurface Dispositions and strategic wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan.
For more information, please go to the Company’s website at www.empmetals.com or contact:
Karl Kottmeier, CEO
Phone: 1-604-689-7422
Paul Schubach, COO
Phone: 1-306-519-8341
Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance.
EMP Metals cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that
actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond
EMP Metals’ control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating
to EMP Metals' limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its
exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary
permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental
regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially
from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-
looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, EMP Metals
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information
contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news
release.