CEOL application submitted for Laguna Verde

CleanTech Lithium PLC (“CleanTech Lithium” or “CleanTech” or the “Company”) (TARGET: CTL, Frankfurt:T2N)an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, is pleased to announce that it has submitted its application (the “Application”) for a dedicated lithium operating contract (“CEOL”) for Laguna Verde through its Chile-based subsidiary Atacama Salt Lakes SpA (“ASL”). This submission to the Chilean government to participate in the streamlined process is well ahead of the 30 deadline^e January 2026. The award of a CEOL means that the recipient can commercially produce lithium from the specified project for the economic life of the project.

Highlights:

• ASL submitted its application in accordance with the Ministry of Mines criteria to participate in the streamlined, direct negotiation process for the Laguna Verde CEOL.
• ASL’s application confirms that it owns over 80% of the mining concessions in the CEOL polygon area defined by the Chilean government and is supported in the application by a consortium partner that the company believes will enable CTL to comfortably meet the financial capacity criteria.
• The application was submitted well before the 30 filing deadline^e January 2026. The Ministry of Mines will now commence the Application review process and the Company will engage in regular consultation with the Ministry during that time.
• The Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) for Laguna Verde is currently being finalized and if the company is accepted into direct negotiations within the streamlined process, the PFS will be published shortly thereafter.
• The lawsuit related to certain Laguna Verde licenses, announced on 1^st December 2025 will not impact ASL’s CEOL application in any way.
• CleanTech Lithium is organizing a webinar for investors on Tuesday 6^e January at 17:00 GMT. Investors can register for Investor Meet Company for free via: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/cleantech-lithium-plc/register-investor

Referring to the RNS published on 15^e In January 2025, the Chilean government established criteria for candidates to apply for a CEOL at selected salaries, including Laguna Verde, under the National Lithium Strategy. These criteria include ownership of >80% of the mining concessions for the proposed polygon area, experience in the mining and lithium extraction industry and audited financial statements with a minimum accounting equity of USD$30 million, held by the applicant or as a consortium.

CTL owns >97% of the relevant mining concessions of the polygon area and therefore the Company does not anticipate any third party applications for this CEOL. ASL has also formed a consortium with a partner (the “Partner”), who requested anonymity, to comfortably meet the financial needs of the Chilean government. The Partner, an experienced minerals company, in addition to receiving agreed compensation, will acquire a minority interest in ASL for a nominal amount (significantly less than 0.01%) at the time of the award of the Laguna Verde CEOL. CTL has the exclusive right to require the Partner to transfer that shareholding at any time to another party of CTL’s choice, at the same price as the acquisition. It is intended that this transfer will involve a strategic partner or partners sometime in 2026. In the meantime, as part of the Application, the Partner has also co-guaranteed the financial obligations of the project for the period that they retain the minority interest in ASL. CleanTech Lithium is confident that it meets the criteria to participate in the streamlined CEOL process, which will lead to the award of the CEOL, and expects to receive feedback on the application in February 2026.

Ignacio Mehech, Chief Executive Officer of CleanTech Lithium, commented: “We believe that we are the only applicant eligible to apply for the CEOL in Laguna Verde under the Ministry’s streamlined process. We own over 80% of the mining concessions in the CEOL polygon required by the Ministry, we have formed a consortium with a financially strong partner, and we bring extensive experience in the mining and lithium extraction industries both in Chile and globally. Our application was submitted one month before the deadline and we can expect a response from the government expect. 2026, if not sooner This is a pivotal moment in CleanTech Lithium’s path to developing a high-quality lithium project in Laguna Verde.

“By forming a consortium, ASL will be supported in its CEOL application by the partner, allowing CTL to comfortably meet the financial capacity criteria set by the Ministry of Mines. ​​We are very grateful for the partner’s support under mutually acceptable commercial arrangements.

“The company believes that the ongoing litigation regarding certain Laguna Verde licenses will not impact ASL’s CEOL application as these licenses are held in a separate CTL subsidiary that is not part of ASL’s CEOL application. The licenses are not required to enable CTL to meet the minimum 80% threshold for mining concessions in the proposed polygon area.”

“Provided CTL is allowed into direct negotiations within the streamlined process, CTL is preparing to publish the PFS for Laguna Verde. This will be led by internationally recognized engineering firm Worley and will include the operational and economic drivers to develop a high-value lithium project at Laguna Verde using low impact extraction technologies. This will also enable the company to initiate more meaningful discussions with potential strategic partners in the coming months and we will address the market in due course. keep you informed of progress.”

For more information please contact:
CleanTech Lithium PLC
Ignacio Mehech/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter	Office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Mobile: +44 (0) 7494 630 360 Chile office: +562-32239222
Beaumont Cornish Limited (nominated advisor) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak	+44 (0) 20 7628 3396
IStar Capital Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox Davies	+44 (0) 20 3884 8450 daniel@istar.capital
Canaccord Genuity (joint broker) James Asensio	+44 (0) 20 7523 4680

Beaumont Cornish Limited (“Beaumont Cornish”) is the nominated adviser to the firm and is authorized and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish’s responsibilities as the Company’s Nominated Advisor, including the responsibility to advise and guide the Company in relation to its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisors, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and is not responsible to other persons for providing protection to Beaumont Cornish customers, nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to therein.

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CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. CleanTech Lithium has two major lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and an exploration project in Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the Lithium Triangle, a leading center for battery-grade lithium production.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to using Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) where used brine is re-injected, which does not deplete the aquifer. Direct lithium extraction is a transformative technology that removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. For more information please visit: www.ctlithium.com

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