West Vancouver, British Columbia - Newsfile Corp. - September 9, 2026 - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") is pleased to announce that Nevada North Lithium, LLC ("NNL"), the joint venture formed by Surge and Evolution Mining Limited has executed an arm's length definitive Access and Mitigation Agreement, dated September 8^th, 2026, (the "Agreement") with the Salmon River Cattlemens Association, Incorporated ("SRCA") securing surface and water access for the Nevada North Lithium Project (the "Project"). SRCA is a Nevada ranching corporation that owns approximately 880 acres of private land lying within NNL's mining claims, and that holds Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") grazing permits and water rights in the Project area. Under the Agreement, SRCA grants NNL a non-exclusive right of access over those lands to explore, develop, mine, process, and to construct and operate roads, utilities, water infrastructure and related facilities. The grant runs for a single continuous term covering exploration and permitting, construction, production, closure and reclamation. The Agreement also resolves the parties' outstanding differences before the Nevada Division of Water Resources. SRCA has agreed to withdraw the protests it filed against NNL's applications to appropriate water in support of the Project. In exchange, NNL has committed to a monitoring, mitigation and management framework designed to protect SRCA's existing water rights and maintain stockwater availability for its cattle operations. The framework includes an independent pre-mining baseline study of water quantity and quality, forage condition and grazing capacity; a joint coordination committee with equal representation from each party; a monitoring protocol with defined mitigation triggers; and an obligation on NNL to replace or restore any water supply that Project activities are determined to have materially impaired, at quantity and quality at least equal to baseline conditions. NNL will also post a performance bond securing its mitigation and infrastructure obligations, in addition to any bonding required by regulators. Mr. Greg Reimer, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, commented, "Long-term surface access and a clear path through water permitting are foundational to any project, and this agreement delivers both. I would like to thank the SRCA Board of Directors for all their time and effort in coming to this agreement. We have committed to measure conditions before we develop the Project, to monitor them together, and to fix what we affect. That is the standard we intend to hold ourselves to for the life of this Project." Surge is advancing the Project toward a prefeasibility study targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, supported by the 2026 drill program that NNL submitted to the BLM in August 2026. The development plan for the Project currently contemplates an open-pit lithium operation with an estimated mine life of approximately 42 years. A copy of the Agreement will be filed under the Company's profile on Sedar+ at www.sedarplus.ca This news release is qualified entirely by the full text of the Agreement. The company is also granting a total of 2 million stock options, exercisable for a period of five years, at an exercise price of $1.02 cents a share to certain directors, officers and consultants. Qualified Person: 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. About Surge Battery Metals Inc. Surge Battery Metals Inc., 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 development of high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering battery electric storage and electric vehicles. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and a listing on the OTCQX Market in the USA, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration. About Evolution Mining Limited Evolution Mining is a leading, globally relevant gold miner. Evolution operates six mines, comprising five wholly-owned mines - Cowal in New South Wales, Ernest Henry and Mt Rawdon in Queensland, Mungari in Western Australia, and Red Lake in Ontario, Canada, and an 80% share in Northparkes in New South Wales. About Nevada North Lithium, LLC Nevada North Lithium, LLC, jointly owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc (67.5%) and Evolution Mining Limited (32.5%), owns the Nevada North Lithium Project southeast of Jackpot, Nevada about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County. The first four rounds of drilling at the Project identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a...