• German lithium converter expertise for Canada: Building on the blueprint developed in Guben and in collaboration with Siemens, the Red Rock Converter will define the future of digitally enabled lithium conversion facilities.
  
  
  
• Multi-phase strategic partnership: The cooperation includes the integration of Siemens Digital Twin technology, as well as evaluation of additional Siemens solutions, services and engineering support, with the goal of positioning Red Rock as a blueprint for future converters in Canada and allied markets.
  
  
  
• Red Rock as a Strategic Contributor to G7 Critical Minerals Supply Chain Cooperation: The partnership strengthens German-Canadian cooperation within the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance and positions Red Rock as a reference project for resilient, sustainable, and scalable lithium conversion.

TORONTO, March 2, 2026 /CNW/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") and Siemens Canada Ltd. (Siemens) are pleased to announce that they have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) laying the foundation for a long-term, multi-phase strategic partnership to develop state-of-the-art lithium conversion capacity. The signing took place at the Canadian Critical Minerals Forum hosted by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) during Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Trade Show and Convention (PDAC) – the world's leading conference for the mining and minerals industry. At the core of the partnership is the application of Siemens' cutting-edge digitalization technology – in particular Digital Twin solutions – for the development, construction, and operation of Rock Tech's planned lithium converter in Red Rock, Ontario.

The partnership translates the strategic critical raw material cooperation between Canada and Germany into concrete, on-the-ground collaboration. Siemens brings German industrial and digitalization expertise to a Canadian flagship project built on the blueprint of the fully permitted, shovel-ready Guben converter in Germany. The public signing underscores the strategic importance of Red Rock for Canada's efforts to build resilient and sovereign midstream capacity for critical minerals – and reinforces broader Canada-Germany cooperation aligned within the G7 critical minerals supply chain priorities. The parties intend to explore available funding opportunities to support deployment of Digital-Twin technology.

Proven Blueprint Enables Accelerated Execution
The Red Rock converter will be developed based on the fully permitted and engineered facility in Guben, Germany. By transferring this blueprint to Canada, development timelines can be shortened, technical risks minimized, and capital efficiency increased. Leveraging the engineering and permitting work completed in Guben materially reduces execution risk and supports a more efficient path toward final investment decision in Canada. The planned production capacity of up to 32,000 tonnes of LCE per year would be sufficient to supply up to 900,000 electric vehicles annually. 

"Red Rock will be Ontario's first lithium conversion facility and is a key project in Canada's efforts to rapidly establish domestic critical minerals processing capacity," says Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech Lithium. "Together with our Georgia Lake mining project, we are creating a fully vertically integrated supply chain from rock to battery-grade lithium. A critical minerals corridor, entirely in Ontario."

Parliamentary State Secretary Stefan Rouenhoff emphasizes: „The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy strongly welcomes the deepening of business relations between Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada. At a time when secure and sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials are of strategic importance, this partnership sends a powerful signal for the continued expansion of German-Canadian cooperation."

Digital Twin Optimizes Efficiency and Sustainability
The collaboration with Siemens provides for the deployment of Digital Twin technology across the entire project lifecycle: from the feasibility study through engineering and construction to operation. Through the virtual, data-driven modeling of processes, energy flows, and material streams, Rock Tech can optimize and validate design, efficiency, emissions, and operational reliability before committing capital. "Our partnership with Rock Tech is built on a shared commitment to developing stronger and more resilient domestic critical minerals processing capacity," says Faisal Kazi, CEO of Siemens Canada. "By leveraging our digital twin and industrial digitalization technologies, we are supporting the development of lithium conversion in Ontario that could ultimately help support stronger battery supply chains within the G7. This collaboration between our two organizations – both at home in Canada and in Germany – underscores our shared vision for energy security, industrial competitiveness, clean growth, and creating a blueprint for next-generation facilities worldwide."

Strategic Relevance for Canada and the G7
With midstream lithium processing, the project closes a critical gap in the North American battery value chain. Rock Tech and Siemens share the goal of establishing Red Rock as a strategic project within the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance. The partnership is intended to serve as a reference model for further industrial ventures in the critical minerals space, thereby helping to strengthen supply security across the G7 nations.

"This second round of partnerships and strategic investments under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance illustrates how Canada and our G7 allies are moving from ambition to action. Canada, our industry, and our partners are putting real capital behind the secure and sustainable critical mineral supply chains that our economies and defence industries rely on," said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. "By working with companies like Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens, we are helping deliver the minerals the world needs and the prosperity and security Canadians deserve."

Long-Term Partnership with Growth Potential
The cooperation is structured in multiple phases, initially focusing on the deployment of Digital Twin technology during engineering and in the feasibility study. In the medium term, the parties are evaluating additional Siemens solutions, services and engineering support for the Red Rock converter, as well as the potential expansion of the cooperation to further projects in G7 member countries. Joint applications for public funding will be pursued with NRCan, the Government of Ontario, and through Canadian-German cooperation programs.

On behalf of the Management

Mirco Wojnarowicz
CEO, Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

ABOUT ROCK TECH
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 hydroxide 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 sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly owned Georgia Lake Project, which ensures 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 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 news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to: the Company's and Siemens commitment to strengthen the western battery supply chains; the development of the multi-phase pathway; the parties' strategic, technical, and commercial alignment on the use of Siemens digital twin technology; the implementation of the digital twin technology; the benefit of leveraging the engineering and permitting work completed in Guben converter;  the costs, schedules and completion dates for developing the digital twin technology;  Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the outcome of the MoU and benefits of the use of Siemens digital twin technology; the replicability of the digital converter model for the development of future lithium conversion facilities in Canada and allied jurisdictions; the inclusion of additional Siemens' technology related to the Red Rock converter; the Company's own business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects, and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties; Siemens' ability to deliver the digital twin; the pending development and infrastructure of the Red Rock area; the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies; the Company's ability to secure funding to finance the multi-phase pathway; the role and potential involvement of provincial and federal authorities, and German public-sector stakeholders in supporting the objectives of the parties collaboration; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, intermediate and final Lithium products; future exchange and interest rates; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of development, exploration and operating activities, to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies;.

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. Forward-looking information is derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things the parties' strategic, technical, and commercial alignment on the use of Siemens digital twin technology; the implementation of the digital twin technology; the replicability of the digital converter model for the development of future lithium conversion facilities in Canada and allied jurisdictions; Siemens' decision to strategic invest into Red Rock project; the inclusion of additional Siemens' technology related to the Red Rock converter; Siemens' ability to deliver the digital twin; the pending development and infrastructure of the Red Rock area; the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies; the Company's ability to secure funding to finance the multi-phase pathway; the role and potential involvement of provincial and federal authorities, and German public-sector stakeholders in supporting the objectives of the parties collaboration. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. 

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to technical challenges in providing the digital twin technology; geopolitical risks; changes in applicable laws and regulations; regulatory risks; changes in market conditions, including lithium prices, demand for conversion and digital twin technology and availability of financing; volatility; reliance on third-party contractors and suppliers for critical project components. Except as may be required by law, Rock Tech undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation or undertaking to update or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect any change in Rock Tech's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such information is based. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting readers in understanding Rock Tech's plans, objectives and goals and is not appropriate for any other purposes.

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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.