Rock Tech Lithium and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Receive 2026 Northern Innovators Award

The Central Canadian Resource Expo (CEN-CAN) recognition highlights cross-sector collaboration connecting Northern Ontario's forestry and critical minerals industries

• Rock Tech Lithium and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper jointly recognized with the 2026 Northern Innovators Award at CENCAN 2026
• Award recognizes an innovative Ontario partnership evaluating crude tall oil as a locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium processing
• Project is supported by the Province of Ontario through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund and includes research expertise from Queen's University

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce that Rock Tech and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper have jointly received the 2026 Northern Innovators Award, presented by Mining Life & Exploration News at the Cen-Can Expo Gala Dinner in Thunder Bay.

The award recognizes the organizations' cross-sector collaboration to evaluate crude tall oil—a by-product of Ontario's pulp and paper industry—as a potential locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium processing.

Supported by the Province of Ontario through its Critical Minerals Innovation Fund ("CMIF"), the project brings together Rock Tech, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University to explore how an existing forestry by-product could be used to support more sustainable, competitive and resilient critical minerals processing in Ontario.

"This award recognizes how bringing Northern Ontario industries together can solve practical challenges and create new opportunities," said Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech. "Our collaboration with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University shows the potential for Ontario's strengths in forestry, critical minerals and research to be combined to advance locally developed solutions. We thank Mining Life & Exploration News for this recognition and the Province of Ontario for supporting the project through CMIF."

If successfully validated, crude tall oil could provide a more localized source of flotation reagents, create a potential new application for an Ontario forestry by-product and inform future technical and economic optimization of Rock Tech's Georgia Lake Lithium Project.

The initiative supports Rock Tech's broader strategy to establish an integrated mine-to-converter lithium supply chain in Northern Ontario, connecting the Georgia Lake Project with the proposed Red Rock Lithium Converter.

Additional information regarding the CMIF-supported crude tall oil project is available on Rock Tech's website.

On behalf of the Company,
Mirco Wojnarowicz
CEO

About Rock Tech Lithium

Rock Tech is enabling the battery age by making the battery industries in Europe and North America more independent and competitive. The Company's goal is to ensure the supply of high-quality, locally produced lithium – supporting a resilient, sustainable, and transparent value chain from mine to battery-grade material.

Rock Tech relies on responsible sourcing, state-of-the-art and proven technologies, and a clear focus on circular economy principles. The Company's lithium converter projects in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) and Ontario, Canada (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE per year) form the foundation for a stable and regional supply to the battery and automotive industries. The Guben converter has been recognized as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.

The raw materials for Rock Tech's converter projects are intended to be sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project, which is intended to provide a stable and sustainable supply for the North American market and is being developed in close partnership with local Indigenous communities. By integrating recycled materials, the Company aims to close the local battery loop.

With its facilities, Rock Tech intends to contribute to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards. With its facilities, Rock Tech makes a central contribution to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.

The forward-looking information in this news release is based on several key assumptions and material factors. The forward-looking information also assumes favorable market conditions for lithium. Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; changes in project plans; the risk that regulatory approvals may not be obtained on the anticipated timeline or at all; and risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.