Cruz Battery acquires South Advocate hydrogen project

Executive Summary

• Cruz Battery Metals Corp. has acquired the approximately 5,000-acre South Advocate hydrogen project in Nova Scotia, which directly borders Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.'s projects.
• The acquisition positions Cruz Battery Metals within an emerging hydrogen exploration hub in Nova Scotia, following a major recent hydrogen discovery by neighboring Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.
• Management intends to formulate and start a work program on the new property as soon as possible, citing optimism for growth in 2026 due to increasing investor attention and demand for hydrogen as a clean energy fuel.

Key Details

• Acquisition Asset: Approximately 5,000-acre South Advocate hydrogen project located in Nova Scotia.
• Strategic Context: The project directly borders Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.'s projects; Quebec Innovative Materials recently announced a major hydrogen discovery in the region.
• Market Context: Cruz Battery Metals joins other major entrants into the hydrogen exploration sector, including Rio Tinto and Koloma Inc. (backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates).
• Operational Plans: Management is formulating plans to start a work program on the South Advocate project immediately.
• Additional Corporate Activity: On January 28, 2026, Cruz entered into a joint venture agreement to explore deep-basin lithium brine potential in Clayton Valley, Nevada.
  • The JV covers 115 mineral claims comprising a 2,300-acre land package.
  • The land package is completely surrounded by SLB’s and Pure Energy Minerals’ lithium deposit.
  • Clayton Valley is home to the Albemarle Silver Peak lithium brine mine, the only long-established producing lithium brine basin in the U.S.
• Other Assets: Cruz Battery Metals also holds the Sterling South gold/copper project in Ontario and several battery-metals-focused projects in the U.S., including the Solar lithium project (4,938 acres), Clayton Valley lithium brine project (240 acres), and Central Clayton Valley lithium brine project (580 acres).
• Technical Review: The technical contents were reviewed and approved by Frank Bain, PGeo, a director and qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.
• Acquisition Method: The claims were acquired by staking.

Notable Quotes

• James Nelson, President: "Hydrogen exploration companies are experiencing a surge of investor attention recently, and we are pleased to be able to acquire the South Advocate project, prospective for hydrogen directly bordering Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.'s, who have made a major recent hydrogen discovery in Nova Scotia."
• James Nelson, President: "Cruz now joins other companies such as Rio Tinto and, according to the Financial Post, Koloma Inc., a Denver-based natural hydrogen company backed by investors including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates through their respective venture funds, as recent entrants into this emerging hydrogen exploration hub."
• James Nelson, President: "The company is very optimistic about the growth prospects for the remainder of 2026 with multiple potential catalysts on the horizon."