Frontier Lithium Signs Process Agreements with Deer Lake and Sandy Lake First Nations and Advances Permitting Under Ontario's One Project, One Process Framework
Frontier Lithium Signs Process Agreements
with Deer Lake and Sandy Lake First Nations
and Advances Permitting Under Ontario's One
Project, One Process Framework
GREATER SUDBURY, ON
,
Jan. 15, 2026
/CNW/ - Frontier Lithium Inc. (TSXV: FL) (OTC: LITOF)
(FRA: HL2) ("Frontier" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into process
agreements with Deer Lake First Nation and
Sandy Lake First Nation
. The agreements reflect a
commitment to proceed in a manner that recognizes the regulatory requirements of the project as
well as a commitment to respect Anishinninew laws and protocols which will help further build
relationships that support the advancement of project permitting processes for potential all-season
road access, and the potential construction and operation of a mine and mill.
These process agreements are intended to provide structure, transparency, and predictability for all
parties as technical studies and permitting activities progress under the One Project, One Process
(1P1P) framework. The agreements reflect a shared commitment to early engagement, information
sharing, and supporting meaningful participation throughout both First Nations and Crown approval
processes. This is consistent with both Anishinninew laws and protocols, and with
Ontario's
stated
objective that Indigenous communities be closely involved from the outset of comprehensive project
reviews and that approvals be streamlined without weakening environmental protections.
With the implementation of these agreements and
Ontario's
1P1P framework, Frontier is positioned
to advance permitting in a more coordinated and efficient manner, aligning provincial requirements
while maintaining a strong focus on consultation and environmental stewardship, and respecting
Anishinninew laws and protocols. The agreements with
Deer Lake
and
Sandy Lake First Nations
build on the last decade of relationship building including the exploration agreements that have been
in place since 2016.
"These process agreements represent what Frontier considers a best practice for how exploration
and mining companies approach Indigenous engagement," said
Trevor Walker
, President and CEO
of Frontier Lithium. "We are excited to keep moving forward, and we view these agreements as
essential to ensuring that any consideration of the Project proceeds in a coordinated manner that
integrates Indigenous perspectives with provincial regulatory processes. We are committed to
learning from and working with Deer Lake First Nation and
Sandy Lake First Nation
, guided by
Anishinninew law, in a way that is respectful and grounded in their responsibilities to the land."
"Deer Lake First Nation has been clear that any development in our territory must proceed with
transparency, respect, and meaningful participation from our community," stated Chief
Lenard
Mamakeesick
of Deer Lake First Nation. "Our process agreement is an important step in setting out
how we will be engaged as Frontier's project moves through
Ontario's
One Project, One Process
framework, and reflect how our concerns about the land, water, and future generations will be heard
and considered."
"
Sandy Lake First Nation
has a responsibility to protect our lands, waters, and future generations.
These process agreements create clarity around how information will be shared and how our laws
and protocols will be respected as the Project is considered. We look forward to working
cooperatively with Frontier through a structured process that supports transparency, community
participation, and careful consideration of potential development."
"
Ontario
is proving that you can move major critical mineral projects forward through real
partnership," said Stephen Lecce,
Ontario
Minister of Energy and Mines. "
Ontario's
One Project,
One Process designation for Frontier Lithium's PAK project is driving this job creating project
forward with speed and in meaningful partnership with Deer Lake First Nation and
Sandy Lake First
Nation
so that we build the mines
Ontario
needs to power the clean economy of the future."
Through these process agreements, Frontier and the participating First Nations are establishing a
clear, coordinated framework to support the disciplined and transparent consideration of the project.
This approach is intended to align with the Province's stated goal of reducing government review
timelines by 50% and Frontier's anticipated 24-month 1P1P timeline for the completion of Provincial
permitting. Throughout this process, a commitment to respecting and learning Anishinninew laws and
protocols, environmental protections, and community priorities will remain central to decision-making.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Trevor Walker
, President & CEO
About Frontier Lithium
Frontier Lithium Inc. is a pre-production mining company with an objective to become a strategic and
integrated supplier of premium spodumene concentrates as well as battery-grade lithium salts to the
growing electric vehicle, and energy storage markets in
North America
. The Company's PAK Lithium
Project maintains the largest land position and resource in a premium lithium mineral district located
in
Ontario's
Great Lakes region.
About the PAK Lithium Project
The PAK Lithium Project is a fully integrated critical minerals initiative in
Ontario
, developing a high-
grade, large scale lithium resource. Operated as a joint venture between Frontier (92.5%) and
Mitsubishi Corporation (7.5%), the project is advancing in parallel with a mine and mill, north of
Red
Lake, Ontario
and a downstream lithium conversion facility in
Thunder Bay, Ontario
, which are both
key to supporting a secure domestic lithium supply for the clean energy transition. A 2025 Mine and
Mill Feasibility Study (FS), prepared by DRA Global Limited and entitled National Instrument 43-101
Technical Report FS PAK Lithium Project, Mine and Mill, outlines a 31-year Project life with an after-
tax net present value of
$932 million
at an 8% discount rate and an after-tax internal rate of return of
17.9%.These results have been disclosed in the Company's press release dated
May 28, 2025
, and
the accompanying technical report was filed on SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
) on
July 9, 2025
.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements".
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking
statements. Forward looking statements contained in this news release may include, but are not
limited to, the EY study estimates including but not limited to gross spending, GDP, wages, full time
equivalent employment and possible tax revenue, the PAK Lithium Project and its estimated
economics, and statements with respect to: capital requirements and private and/or public financing
initiatives and completion of these financings (if any), estimated mineral resources, estimated capital
costs to construct a mine and conversion facilities, estimated operating costs, estimated cash flows,
net present value, the Feasibility Study and statements that address future production, resource and
reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the
Company expects, including but not limited to capital and operating costs, timelines, internal rates of
return, and project development milestones.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Risk factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include: market prices for
commodities, increases in capital or operating costs, construction risks, availability of infrastructure
including roads, regulatory and permitting risks, exploitation and exploration successes, continued
availability of capital and financing, financing costs, and general economic, market or business
conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, please review the
Company's public filings available at
www.sedarplus.ca
.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is
defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE
Frontier Lithium Inc.
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%SEDAR: 00008434E
For further information:
Company Contact Information: Bora Ugurgel, Senior Manager, Investor
Relations, 2614 Belisle Drive, Val Caron, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, P3N 1B3 CANADA, T. +001
705.897.7622, F. +001 705.897.7618
CO: Frontier Lithium Inc.
CNW 09:01e 15-JAN-26