Surge Announces Start of Lithium Project Drill Program

Columbia, (Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2026) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") is pleased to announce that drilling has begun on the 2026/27 drill program at the Nevada North Lithium Project ("NNLP" or the "Project"). The Project is owned by Nevada North Lithium, LLC ("NNL"), the joint venture formed by Surge and Evolution Mining Limited ("Evolution").

Crews were mobilized and drilling has started after NNL received approval from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") for the program under the Project's 2025 Exploration Plan of Operations Permit. As announced in the news release dated August 19, 2026, NNL submitted the 2026/27 program to the BLM and issued a request for proposals to drilling contractors. Drilling is expected to continue through this fall and into the 2027 drill season.

The program will continue to define and upgrade the mineral resource while providing the data needed for the next stage of development, the Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS"). The Project's updated Mineral Resource Estimate, filed June 30, 2026, reports a pit-constrained Measured and Indicated Resource of 657.5 Mt grading 3,007 ppm Li containing 10.5 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent ("LCE") at a cutoff grade of 1,250 ppm Li.

The 2026/27 drill program includes diamond core, sonic and reverse circulation ("RC") drilling, with the method for each hole matching its engineering purpose. Condemnation and Pit Definition Drilling will involve up to twenty-five (25) core holes totaling approximately 15,000 feet and up to twenty (20) sonic holes totaling approximately 5,000 feet, testing areas planned for waste rock storage, plant infrastructure, and access and haul road corridors. The drilling will also refine the ultimate pit boundary for mine plan optimization.

Reverse Circulation Drilling will involve up to ten (10) RC holes, approximately 5,000 feet total, drawn from the core and sonic drill plan, for rapid confirmation drilling and VWP installation. Water Supply and Hydrogeological Testing will include two aquifer test wells, each twinned with a vibrating wire piezometer ("VWP") monitoring hole, to characterize the aquifer system. A separate water supply well will support field operations and will also be twinned with a VWP to monitor aquifer response during pumping.

Geotechnical Data Collection will involve core logging, sampling, and testing for geotechnical characterization to support pit slope, foundation, and infrastructure design where applicable for the various surface facilities. Metallurgical Sampling and Pilot Program Support will involve representative bulk tonnage material being collected for metallurgical test work and flow sheet optimization ahead of a planned pilot program to precede the BFS.

Qualified Person as Defined Under National Instrument 43-101 Alan J. Morris, MSc, CPG of Spring Creek, Nevada, Geological Advisor to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.