Surge Battery Metals Inc. [TSXV: NILI; OTCQX: NILIF; FSE: DJ5] is preparing to mobilize for a core drilling program at its Nevada North Lithium Project, Nevada. This nine-hole program is a critical step in the project’s advancement and will provide essential data for a future Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).

In conjunction with the fall drill program, the company has signed a new Right of Entry and Exploration Agreement for 2025 with the Salmon River Cattleman’s Association (SRCA). This agreement secures access to drill five of the nine planned holes located on private surface lands owned by the SRCA. The remaining four holes will be completed on adjacent public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management for which Surge expects approval of its Work Plan soon.

Greg Reimer, CEO and Director, commented, “We are excited to get the drills turning again at Nevada North for this highly strategic program. Finalizing this fall’s program directly facilitates the work that will underpin our future PFS. Our primary goal is to significantly upgrade the confidence in our existing mineral resource which is a major value-driver and de-risking milestone on our path to becoming a domestic supplier of battery-grade lithium.”

2025 Drilling Program Highlights: Targeted Core Drilling: The program will consist of nine core holes totaling approximately 4,500 feet (1,370 metres). The holes are designed to average 500 feet in depth to intercept all three of the upper, high-grade lithium clay horizons.

Significant Resource Upgrade: A primary objective is to convert the majority of the project’s current Inferred Mineral Resource to the Indicated category, with the potential to upgrade a substantial portion (up to or exceeding 40%) to the Measured category.

Key PFS Data Collection: The program is engineered to be multi-purpose, providing essential data beyond assays. This includes Geotechnical Data: Core samples for pit slope and mine design analysis. Hydrogeological Data: Packer testing and installation of Vibrating Wire Piezometers to characterize groundwater conditions, critical for permitting and project design.

The drilling program is scheduled to begin in early September and is expected to be completed by the end of October 2025.

Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on exploring clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering electric vehicles.

The company owns the Nevada North Lithium Project located in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County, Nevada.

The first three rounds of drilling, completed in 2022, 2023, and 2024, identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 4,300 meters and a known width of greater than 1,500 metres. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent, while wide drill spacing allows for significant upside to occur during infill drilling.

The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 8.65 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 2,955 ppm Li at a 1,250 ppm cutoff. The recently completed PEA reported an after-tax NPV_8% US $9.17 Billion and after-tax IRR of 22.8% at $24,000/ t LCE and an OPEX of US $5,243/t LCE.