Critical Elements Provides Preliminary Update on its 10,000-meter Drill Program at Rose West

MONTRÉAL, QC / ACCESS Newswire / April 1, 2026 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to provide an update on its Phase 1 Winter 2026 drill program, at the 100% owned Rose West Discovery ("Rose West"), located in Eeyou Istchee, Québec. Rose West is situated within 10 km of the highly advanced Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project ("Rose"). Rose West was previously documented as a near surface, sub-horizontal 10-40 m thick lithium-rich pegmatite bearing zone intercepted by drilling over a 450 m x 370 m footprint area in the winter of 2024 (see Press Release dated February 3, 2026). Recent drilling confirms the presence of spodumene rich intervals all around the initial core zone, and especially towards the East Target area, extending the main pegmatite body by about 800 meters towards the east and by about 400 meters to the south, thus bringing its overall footprint to 1250 m x 800 m. Furthermore, the 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.

Assay results were received for holes RW-26-29, RW-26-30 and RW-26-45, and returned lithium and tantalum assays, as highlighted:

• 1.51% Li₂O and 242 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 3.60 m, and 0.77% Li₂O and 170 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 15.05 m (including 1.39% Li₂O and 111 ppm Ta₂O₅ over8.00 m)in hole RW-26-29

• 1.17% Li₂O and 704 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 2.95 m, in hole RW-26-30

• 1.24% Li₂O and 108 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 27.80 m (including 1.43% Li₂O and 122 ppm Ta₂O₅ over22.00 m), and 0.93% Li₂O and 185 ppm Ta₂O₅ over 12.65 m in hole RW-26-45

  * Core length; the true thickness is between 80 to 95% of the core length.

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. Eighteen (18) holes have been drilled to date for a total of 3,755 meters. Table 1 presents the collar locations along with final length and the azimuth / dip of the holes drilled to date.

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 that were fully logged at the time of this news release. The main pegmatite (Zone 3) shows downhole intersection lengths ranging from about 2.0 m in hole RW-26-49 at its northeastern limit to over 25.0 m in hole RW-26-45, confirming the continuity of the core zone defined previously. Nine other holes have intersected Zone 3 with a thickness averaging 13.0 meters. Zone 2 has been intersected in 6 holes with thicknesses ranging from 5.0 to 15.0 meters. Holes RW-26-29 and 30 have intersected the thin Zone 4 very close to the top.

Zones 5, 6 and 7 are newly interpreted from the recent results, and they show a thickness comparable to the main Zone 3 and, along with the other zones, are believed to be stacked following an "en echelon" pattern within a structural corridor defined by the presence of shallow dipping aplitic dykes (see Figures 2 to 4).