Lithium Ionic Advances Construction Readiness at Bandeira; Secures Construction-Phase Water Access and Provides Engineering and Procurement Updates Construction water represents significant milestone on the path to construction-readiness
Lithium Ionic Advances Construction Readiness at Bandeira; Secures
Construction-Phase Water Access and Provides Engineering and Procurement
Updates
Construction water represents significant milestone on the path to construction-readiness
TORONTO, ON, June 25, 2026 – Lithium Ionic Corp. ( TSXV: LTH; OTC: LTHCF; FSE: H3N )
(“Lithium Ionic” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on recent engineering,
procurement and construction-readiness progress at its 100% -owned Bandeira Lithium Project
(“Bandeira” or the “Project”), located in Minas Gerais, Brazil’s globally significant “Lithium Valley.”
Recent progress reflects continued advancement across key pre -construction workstreams,
including site access, mine planning, underground infrastructure engineering and major
equipment procurement.
Recent Progress
Secured direct access to a reliable construction-phase water source through an
18-month lease agreement for abstraction from the Jequitinhonha River;
Completed a detailed three-year mine plan and a refined life-of-mine plan for
Bandeira with NCL Ingeniería y Construcción SpA (“NCL”), further validating the
Feasibility Study announced September 17, 2025;
Completed basic engineering for the underground mine portals with Tractebel
Engineering (“Tractebel”), enabling portal construction tendering to advance; and
Issued tenders for the Project’s main crushing units, with supplier proposals
received and under evaluation.
Blake Hylands, P.Geo., CEO of Lithium Ionic, commented, “ These milestones reflect continued
progress across several important pre -construction workstreams at Bandeira. Securing access
to reliable construction-phase water access supports site-level readiness, while the completion of
updated mine planning, portal engineering and crusher tendering further advances the Project
from engineering toward execution planning. Our team remains focused on disciplined
engineering, procurement and construction-readiness activities as we continue to move Bandeira
toward a construction decision.”
Securing Construction-Phase Water Access
In June 2026, the Company executed an 18- month lease agreement with a local landowner
securing direct access to the Jequitinhonha River in the municipality of Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, for
water abstraction during the construction phase of Bandeira. The agreement grants access to the
abstraction point located on the lessor’s property and enables the Company to exercise its
existing water rights under the water-use authorization issued by the Agência Nacional das Águas
(“ANA”).
This agreement supports site-level construction planning and represents a key de- risking
milestone.
Completion of Three-Year Plan and Refined LOM Plan
NCL completed a detailed three -year plan together with a refined LOM plan for Bandeira. The
work refines the underground mine schedule, development sequencing and production priorities
for the initial years of operation across the full life of the Project. The plan validates and supports
the Feasibility Study and the Company’s detailed engineering, construction sequencing and
execution planning as Bandeira advances toward a construction decision.
Engineering and Underground Portal Advancement
The Company has completed basic engineering for the two underground mine portal s in
collaboration with Tractebel Engineering, a leading global engineering consultancy in energy,
water, and infrastructure, part of the ENGIE group. Completion of this basic engineering enables
the Company to proceed to the market for portal construction, with the tender process now
advancing. The portals are a critical early works component on the path to construction.
Procurement and Tendering Progress
The Company continues to advance procurement of major process equipment in support of
construction readiness. The Project’s main crushing units have been tendered to five leading
crusher suppliers, with five proposals received and currently under evaluation.
This tendering activity forms part of the Company’s disciplined procurement program as
engineering and execution planning continue to advance at Bandeira.
Qualified Persons
The technical and scientific content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by
Blake Hylands, P.Geo., CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, who is a “qualified person” as defined
in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Hylands is not
independent of the Company.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium Ionic Corp.
Blake Hylands
Chief Executive Officer, Director
+1 647.316.2500
About Lithium Ionic Corp.
Lithium Ionic is a Canadian lithium development company focused on responsibly advancing its
100%-owned Bandeira Lithium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, a region coined the “Lithium
Valley” that is emerging as a premier hard-rock lithium district. The Company is executing on a
focused development strategy centered on engineering de- risking, permitting advancement,
commercial planning, and construction readiness, with the goal of becoming a near-term producer
of high-quality spodumene concentrate for global battery supply chains.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward- looking information” within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature contain forward-
looking information. Forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as
“may”, “will”, “expect”, “likely”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “potential”,
“proposed”, “estimate”, “believe” or the negative of these terms, or other similar words,
expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions
“may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward- looking information contained
in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the terms, duration and benefits of the water
abstraction lease agreement; the availability and adequacy of water for construction and
operations, including the planned operational water pipeline; the Company’s ability to exercise its
water rights under the water-use authorization issued by ANA; the ant icipated construction
schedule and timing; the completion percentage and advancement of Project engineering; the
validation of the Feasibility Study by, and the implications of, the three-year plan and refined LOM
plan completed by NCL; the tendering, evaluation, award and outcomes of procurement for the
main crushing units and underground portal construction; the Company’s ability to finance and
develop the Bandeira project; the ability of the Company to become a near-term, low-cost lithium
producer; and the Company’s future plans. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the Company’s expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the
Company with securities regulations. Forward-looking information contained in this news release
is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and
is based on assumptions management believed to be reasonable, including management’s
perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as
other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While we consider
these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management,
there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may
be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts,
predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be
correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors,
including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual
results to differ material ly from the forward -looking information in this news release. Additional
risk factors can also be found in the Company’s current MD&A and the Company’s other public
filings, all of which have been filed under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward -looking information. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as requi red by applicable law. Forward-
looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.
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defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the
contents of this news release.