#Canada #Saskatchewan #Canadian Energy Metals #Thor Project #alumina production

Canadian Energy Metals Achieves Milestone in Aluminum Production

Canadian Energy Metals Corp. (CEM) has reached a significant milestone in its pursuit of innovative metal extraction techniques. On September 8, 2026, the company announced that it has successfully created a proof-of-concept for producing Smelter Grade Alumina (SGA) from a non-bauxite resource discovered in their Thor Project located in northeastern Saskatchewan, near Tisdale.

This breakthrough is particularly noteworthy as it demonstrates the company's capability to generate alumina that meets the same purity and specifications as traditional SGA produced by the Bayer process from bauxite, which has been the industry standard. This achievement was realized through extensive metallurgical testing, focusing on the conversion of boehmite extracted from the project’s reserves of high-purity aluminum oxide (HPA) and chemical aluminum oxide (CGA).

CEM’s President and CEO, Christopher Hopkins, shared his enthusiasm about the results, stating, "The processes we have developed with our top technical partners for the past two years are rapidly advancing North America's first fully integrated aluminum project. We are proud of this success and are moving swiftly into the prefeasibility study phase."

Understanding the Prefeasibility Study (PFS)

The company has also officially commenced a prefeasibility study (PFS), which will provide a thorough technical and economic assessment. This study aims to define the mining, processing, and smelting processes that CEM will utilize, enhance the reliability of the resource estimates, and identify preliminary investment and operating costs. It will also evaluate logistics, infrastructure, and market options, helping to determine whether the project is technically, economically, and commercially viable enough to proceed to a full feasibility study (FS).

In January 2026, CEM had already announced a proof-of-concept for the extraction of HPA and CGA from the same black shale, further underscoring the economic potential of their endeavors. The preliminary economic assessment (PEA) submitted in May 2026 highlighted the promising economic prospects for producing high-purity alumina products from the discovered shale deposits.

Strategic Importance Amid Global Supply Challenges

As disruptions in global supply chains pose increasing risks to the world economy, CEM's ability to provide secure North American sourcing—from raw material extraction to processing and delivery—emerges as a crucial competitive advantage. This integrated approach is fundamental to the company’s strategic vision and value proposition, ensuring the sustainability of alumina and other critical metal supplies from domestic sources.

CEM is committed to ongoing technical work to support the prefeasibility study and is also proactive in optimizing processes through advanced pilot trials. The company continues to expand exploration activities to unlock further critical metal potential within its mining rights.

About Canadian Energy Metals Corp.

CEM is a private company holding a completely unencumbered 100% interest in the Thor Project in Saskatchewan. The company focuses on developing its alumina resources and related strategic and critical metals from the black shales of the Thor Project. Its goal is to illustrate technical and economic pathways for potentially establishing an integrated North American supply chain for alumina and aluminum.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Gary Billingsley, P.Eng, P.Geo, CPA (Retired), Chief Operating Officer of the company, a ‘qualified person’ under National Instrument 43-101, the disclosure standards for mineral projects. Mr. Billingsley is not independent of the company.

Warning Statements

It is essential to understand that the PEA referenced is of a preliminary nature and only relies on measured and indicated mineral resources, with no inferred resources included. The economic analysis presented should solely be considered a conceptual evaluation of the project’s potential at an early stage. Actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated results.

Potential investors are strongly encouraged to read the full technical report prepared per NI 43-101 standards available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The achievements by CEM signal a proactive step toward minimizing dependence on foreign alumina sources, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable and reliable domestic supply chains in the aluminum industry.