The Central Canadian Resource Expo (CEN-CAN) recognizes collaboration across sectors linking the forestry and critical minerals industries in Northern Ontario.
Rock Tech Lithium and Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper are honored with the 2026 Northern Innovators Award at CENCAN 2026. This award celebrates an innovative partnership from Ontario that is assessing crude tall oil as a locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium processing. The project receives backing from the Province of Ontario via the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund, and it leverages research expertise from Queen’s University.
– Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the “Company” or “Rock Tech”) is excited to share that Rock Tech along with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper have received the 2026 Northern Innovators Award, presented by Mining Life & Exploration News at the Cen-Can Expo Gala Dinner held in Thunder Bay.
This award highlights their collaborative efforts to investigate crude tall oil-a by-product of Ontario’s pulp and paper industry-as a potential locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium extraction.
Supported by the Province of Ontario through its Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (“CMIF”), this initiative combines forces between Rock Tech, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, and Queen’s University to study how an existing forestry by-product can contribute to more sustainable, competitive, and resilient critical minerals processing within Ontario.
“This award showcases how uniting industries in Northern Ontario can tackle real challenges while opening up new possibilities,” stated Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech. “Our partnership with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper alongside Queen’s University demonstrates the potential for leveraging Ontario’s resources in forestry, critical minerals, and academic research to develop local solutions. We appreciate Mining Life & Exploration News for this honor and thank the Province of Ontario for its support through CMIF.”
If proven effective, using crude tall oil may offer a more localized source of flotation reagents while creating a new application for an existing forestry by-product which could enhance future technical efficiency as well as economic viability for Rock Tech’s Georgia Lake Lithium Project.
This project aligns with Rock Tech’s larger strategy to create an integrated supply chain that runs from mine to converter lithium production in Northern Ontario-connecting Georgia Lake Project with the proposed Red Rock Lithium Converter.
Further details about this CMIF-supported crude tall oil initiative are available on Rock Tech’s website.
On behalf of the Company,
Mirco Wojnarowicz
CEO About Rock Tech Lithium Rock Tech aims to drive forward battery technology by making battery production in Europe and North America more self-sufficient and competitive. The Company focuses on ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality locally produced lithium-supporting a robust, sustainable, transparent value chain from mining all the way through to battery-grade material. The company emphasizes responsible sourcing alongside utilizing state-of-the-art technologies along with principles focused on circular economies. Its lithium conversion projects located in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) as well as those planned in Ontario (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE annually) lay down crucial foundations necessary for securing stable regional supplies serving both battery manufacturers as well as automotive industries. Recognized under EU Critical Raw Materials Act framework-the Guben converter has been designated a Strategic Project. The raw materials required by these conversion initiatives will be exclusively procured from suppliers who meet strict ESG compliance standards. In Canada specifically-Rock Tech also relies upon its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project which seeks to deliver consistent sustainable supplies aimed toward meeting North American market demands-all developed closely alongside local Indigenous communities fostering cooperative relationships. By integrating recycled materials into production processes-the Company strives towards closing gaps within local battery loops effectively. The facilities operated by Rock Tech aim at contributing towards achieving autonomy over battery-grade material essential for meeting climate objectives set forth globally while working collaboratively among various stakeholders including industries themselves along policymakers plus community groups-committed towards maintaining open lines of communication aligned toward highest environmental standards possible during operations conducted throughout relevant areas served directly impacting communities involved today going forward together collectively shaping outcomes positively experienced mutually across boardrooms alike where energy transitions commenced successfully moving ahead optimally towards sustainable futures achieved ultimately made accessible widely whilst preserving ecological integrity overall societal advancement enhanced sustainably benefitting everyone involved holistically comprehensively respected significantly throughout entire processes directed positively paving paths ahead.” Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements within this news release constitute what can be defined under applicable securities laws known respectively referred hereafter merely simply framed broadly now identified herein expressly indicated henceforth succinctly noted hereby termed alternatively forwarded herein collectively termed “forward-looking statements”. All remarks aside reserved covering solely historical facts-including events results outcomes forecasts happenings resulting likely expected occurrences emerging anticipated derived eventuating aspects thus addressing possibilities arising mentioned included featured framed announced encompassed strictly referred clarifications presently represented below inclusive anticipated benchmarks distinctly specified provided describe featured further detailed adequately disclosed established elaborately encapsulated respectively accounted thereby clarified described transparently acknowledged represented formally conveyed intentionally ensured precisely denoted explicitly indicated clearly communicated.”. If any conditions arise potentially leading directly toward foreseeable conclusions revealed indicating altered transformations altering prospective expectations-which would cause deviations eventually yield actual results varying considerably apart diverging greatly outlined strictly compared earlier expectations conveyed foresightedly exclusively expressed articulated clearly forthwith acknowledged presented respectively detailed counted signaled intended released public disclosure documents validated appropriately residing thereupon filed pursuant legally recognized accordingly following formal protocols adopted rigorously undertaken managed effectively compliant entirely overseen implemented generally executed thoroughly administered abided accepted endorsed updated revised returned evaluated measured meticulously adjusted diligently monitored constantly tracked followed reported consequently stipulated maintained conformably sustained consistently upheld met timely remediated resolved appropriately conducted uniformly observed continued reliably examined referenced transitioned routinely processed efficiently embraced recommended advised suggested effectively adhered genuinely supplied cooperatively managed devotedly supported always inspired truly grounded cooperatively engaged designed comprehensive enlightening supportive shared responsibly originating genuine productive motivating excellence inspirational fundamentally enhancing mutual positive dialogue continuing journey faithfully evolving reshaping paths navigating futures driven successfully reaching potentials unfurling naturally transitioning continuously unveiled transitioning continual.”
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Mirco Wojnarowicz
CEO About Rock Tech Lithium Rock Tech aims to drive forward battery technology by making battery production in Europe and North America more self-sufficient and competitive. The Company focuses on ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality locally produced lithium-supporting a robust, sustainable, transparent value chain from mining all the way through to battery-grade material. The company emphasizes responsible sourcing alongside utilizing state-of-the-art technologies along with principles focused on circular economies. Its lithium conversion projects located in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) as well as those planned in Ontario (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE annually) lay down crucial foundations necessary for securing stable regional supplies serving both battery manufacturers as well as automotive industries. Recognized under EU Critical Raw Materials Act framework-the Guben converter has been designated a Strategic Project. The raw materials required by these conversion initiatives will be exclusively procured from suppliers who meet strict ESG compliance standards. In Canada specifically-Rock Tech also relies upon its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project which seeks to deliver consistent sustainable supplies aimed toward meeting North American market demands-all developed closely alongside local Indigenous communities fostering cooperative relationships. By integrating recycled materials into production processes-the Company strives towards closing gaps within local battery loops effectively. The facilities operated by Rock Tech aim at contributing towards achieving autonomy over battery-grade material essential for meeting climate objectives set forth globally while working collaboratively among various stakeholders including industries themselves along policymakers plus community groups-committed towards maintaining open lines of communication aligned toward highest environmental standards possible during operations conducted throughout relevant areas served directly impacting communities involved today going forward together collectively shaping outcomes positively experienced mutually across boardrooms alike where energy transitions commenced successfully moving ahead optimally towards sustainable futures achieved ultimately made accessible widely whilst preserving ecological integrity overall societal advancement enhanced sustainably benefitting everyone involved holistically comprehensively respected significantly throughout entire processes directed positively paving paths ahead.” Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements within this news release constitute what can be defined under applicable securities laws known respectively referred hereafter merely simply framed broadly now identified herein expressly indicated henceforth succinctly noted hereby termed alternatively forwarded herein collectively termed “forward-looking statements”. All remarks aside reserved covering solely historical facts-including events results outcomes forecasts happenings resulting likely expected occurrences emerging anticipated derived eventuating aspects thus addressing possibilities arising mentioned included featured framed announced encompassed strictly referred clarifications presently represented below inclusive anticipated benchmarks distinctly specified provided describe featured further detailed adequately disclosed established elaborately encapsulated respectively accounted thereby clarified described transparently acknowledged represented formally conveyed intentionally ensured precisely denoted explicitly indicated clearly communicated.”. If any conditions arise potentially leading directly toward foreseeable conclusions revealed indicating altered transformations altering prospective expectations-which would cause deviations eventually yield actual results varying considerably apart diverging greatly outlined strictly compared earlier expectations conveyed foresightedly exclusively expressed articulated clearly forthwith acknowledged presented respectively detailed counted signaled intended released public disclosure documents validated appropriately residing thereupon filed pursuant legally recognized accordingly following formal protocols adopted rigorously undertaken managed effectively compliant entirely overseen implemented generally executed thoroughly administered abided accepted endorsed updated revised returned evaluated measured meticulously adjusted diligently monitored constantly tracked followed reported consequently stipulated maintained conformably sustained consistently upheld met timely remediated resolved appropriately conducted uniformly observed continued reliably examined referenced transitioned routinely processed efficiently embraced recommended advised suggested effectively adhered genuinely supplied cooperatively managed devotedly supported always inspired truly grounded cooperatively engaged designed comprehensive enlightening supportive shared responsibly originating genuine productive motivating excellence inspirational fundamentally enhancing mutual positive dialogue continuing journey faithfully evolving reshaping paths navigating futures driven successfully reaching potentials unfurling naturally transitioning continuously unveiled transitioning continual.”
View original content to download multimedia: https://www. prnewswire. com/news-releases/rock-tech-lithium-and-thunder-bay-pulp-and-paper-receive-2026-northern-innovators-award-302874028. htmlSOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
