NOA Lithium Announces Completion of Mobilization and Start of 2026 Exploration Drilling Program at Rio Grande Project

BUENOS AIRES, AR / ACCESS Newswire / May 21, 2026 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV:NOAL)(Frankfurt:N7N) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated April 23, 2026, the Company's drilling contractor, Hidrotec S.A., has completed mobilization of two drilling rigs for NOA's 2026 exploration drilling campaign at its flagship Rio Grande Project (the "Project") in Salta Province, Argentina. Site preparation activities, including construction of well pads, have been completed, and drilling is expected to commence early next week.

These exploration activities form part of NOA's work program as it advances the Project toward completion of a Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") by year-end 2026.

NOA's Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Rubacha states: "With mobilization complete and drilling expected to begin shortly, we are entering an important phase of fieldwork at Rio Grande as we advance toward the PFS. This program is designed to further de-risk the Project through additional hydrogeological data and testing, and it complements the process development and engineering work currently underway with Hatch. Together, these activities are intended to support a robust PFS design basis and development pathway."

In this initial exploration campaign, the Company plans to drill exploratory wells near diamond drill holes DDH-RG23-001 (Sulfa X) and DDH-RG23-004 (El Camino II). The program is designed to evaluate the hydraulic parameters of deep brine-bearing aquifers and to support ongoing refinement of the hydrogeological and resource models, as the Project progresses toward more advanced technical and economic studies.

This exploration drill program has been reviewed and approved by Montgomery & Associates, which is currently preparing the water balance of the project and will participate in the preparation of the PFS of the Project.

About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are located in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars, being Rio Grande, Arizaro, and Salinas Grandes, and totalling over 140,000 hectares.

About Montgomery & Associates

Montgomery & Associates ("M&A") is an international water resource consulting firm that specializes in management and mining hydrogeology services which includes characterization of aquifer conditions. It has been operating since 1984, with South American offices now located in Santiago Chile and Salta Argentina. M&A's Head office is in Tucson Arizona. M&A's client list includes most of the domestic and international mining entities operating in the Americas.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gabriel Rubacha

Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information

Website: www.noalithium.com
Email: info@noalithium.com
Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709
Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013

Qualified Person

Mr. Michael Rosko, M.Sc., C.P.G. of E. L. Montgomery and Associates ("M&A") is a Registered Geologist (C.P.G.) in Arizona, California, and Texas, a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, and is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Rosko and hydrogeologists from M&A have been on site multiple times during the various phases of drilling and sampling operations and Mr. Rosko has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a QP on many lithium brine projects. Mr. Rosko and M&A are completely independent of NOA, as defined in, and required by, NI 43-101 and Mr. Rosko has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the results of exploration drilling, further brine process testing and exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.