Critical Elements' 10,000-Metre Drill Program at Rose West Continues to Deliver Positive Results

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC / ACCESS Newswire / May 4, 2026 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(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 Ta₂O₅ over 14.50 m (including 1.41% Li₂O and 170 ppm Ta₂O₅ 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 West 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.

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% Li₂O 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.