American Critical Minerals Highlights Recent Addition of Potash to Proposed US Critical Minerals List and Recent US Government Awards for Potash Developers

Rhea-AI Summary

American Critical Minerals (OTCQB:APCOF) highlights the significant addition of Potash to the US Geological Survey's draft Critical Minerals List, a development that could substantially benefit the company's Green River Project. The USGS estimates that over 92% of US potash consumption relies on imports, primarily from Canada, former Soviet Union, and Middle East.

The company emphasizes recent federal funding initiatives in the sector, including a $14 million USDA grant to Sage Potash for a Utah facility and a $3 million DFC commitment to Millennial Potash's Banio Project. Additionally, the company has engaged Machai Capital for digital marketing services with a $400,000 upfront retainer.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Heavy US dependence (92%) on potash imports indicates significant market entry challenges
• Company currently not generating revenue from potash operations
• Significant capital investment likely required to develop Green River Project

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / September 23, 2025 / American Critical Minerals Corp. ("American Critical Minerals" or the "Company") (CSE:KCLI)(OTCQB:APCOF)(Frankfurt:2P3) applauds the recent decision of the U.S. Federal Government to formalize the addition of Potash to the US Geological Survey's ("USGS") draft Critical Minerals List. This list is updated every 3 years and updates will be finalized this year after a 30-day period for public comments on the proposed changes to the List with the final version of the List expected shortly.

Potash has been included in the Critical Minerals List following Executive Orders issued by President Donald Trump earlier this year highlighting that potash should be designated as a Critical Mineral. Its inclusion is also reported to follow modelling which flagged the risks of potential trade barriers from major global suppliers especially with the USGS estimating that in excess of 92% of all potash consumed in the US is imported, mostly from Canada, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

According to the USGS, inclusion on the Critical Minerals List can position projects to be eligible for Federal funding, subject to a streamlined permitting process and to be more competitive due to fees placed on imports. For full details of the Department of the Interior Draft 2025 List of Critical Minerals please see https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/department-interior-releases-draft-2025-list-critical-minerals

In addition, the Company highlights the recent approval for a US$14 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Sage Potash (USA) Corporation, a subsidiary of Sage Potash Corp. This funding will support Sage Potash's financing strategy for its planned construction of a potash production facility in the Paradox Basin in Utah. For full details please see: https://sagepotash.com/sage-potash-obtains-approval-for-us14-million-usda-grant-to-advance-project/

The Company also highlights that the International Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") committed US$3 million in project development funding for Millennial Potash's Banio Potash Project in Gabon, recognizing its potential strategic role to strengthen U.S. food security and supply chain resilience. Please see https://millennialpotash.com/news-releases/

Management Commentary

Simon Clarke President & CEO stated, "the recognition of Potash as a Critical Mineral by the US is a major milestone for the Industry and highlights the need for the US to develop domestic and other sources of supply as quickly as possible, especially with its current reliance on imports for the vast majority of the potash it consumes. It is critical that the US strengthens its food security and supply chain resilience and the size, potential scale and location of the Company's Green River Project positions it very favourably as a potential source of significant potash supply.

Recent US Federal Government financing commitments in the Potash Sector, following the publication of the draft Critical Minerals List, further demonstrates the Administration's commitment to strengthen the supply of potash and we believe we are very well placed to benefit from funding and other benefits that are available as we continue to advance our Project."

Market Awareness Program

The Company also announces that it has engaged Machai Capital Inc. ("Machai") to provide digital marketing services, including creating in-depth marketing campaigns involving corporate branding and social media and email marketing.

Machai is an arms-length marketing, advertising and public awareness firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Machai has been engaged for a term of up to 12 months for an upfront retainer of $400,000. The Company does not propose to issue any securities to Machai in consideration for the services to be provided to the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, Machai does not hold any securities of the Company, but Suneal Sandhu, the principal of Machai, currently holds 1,000,000 common shares and 500,000 share purchase warrants of the Company. Machai can be contacted at <suneal@machaicapital.com> or 101 - 17565 - 58 Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia, V3S 4E3, Canada.

About American Critical Minerals' Green River Potash and Lithium Project

The Green River Potash and Lithium Project is situated within Utah's highly productive Paradox Basin, located 20 miles northwest of Moab, Utah and has significant logistical advantages including close proximity to major rail hubs, airport, roads, water, towns and labour markets. It also benefits from close proximity to the agricultural and industrial heartland of America and numerous potential end-users for its products.

The history of oil and gas production across the Paradox Basin provides geologic data from historic wells across the Project, and the wider Basin, validating and de-risking the potential for high grade potash and large amounts of contained lithium. Wells in and around the project reported lithium up to 500 ppm, bromine up to 6,100 ppm and boron up to 1,260 ppm (Gilbride & Santos, 2012). This data is reinforced by nearby potash production and the advanced stage of neighbouring lithium projects. The Paradox Basin is believed to contain up to 56 billion tonnes of lithium brines, potentially the largest such resource in US (Source: Anson Fastmarkets Presentation - https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ASN/02823465.pdf ) The Company also has a 43-101 Exploration Target of 600 million to 1 billion tonnes of sylvinite (the most important source for the production of potash in North America) with average grades ranging from 19% to 29% KCL.**

The Company holds a 100% interest in eleven State of Utah ("SITLA") mineral and minerals salt leases covering approximately 7,050 acres, 1,094 federal lithium brine claims (BLM Placer Claims) covering 21,150 acres, and 11 federal (BLM) potash prospecting permits covering approximately 25,480 acres. Through these leases, permits and claims the Company has the ability to explore for potash, lithium and potential by-products across the entire Green River Project (approx. 32,530 acres). The Company is authorized to drill a total of 7 exploratory drill holes across the Project (pending bonding the recently approved 4 drill holes).

Intrepid Potash, Inc. is America's largest potash company and only U.S. domestic potash producer and currently produces potash from its nearby Moab Solution Mine, which the Company believes provides strong evidence of stratigraphic continuity within this part of the Paradox Basin (www.intrepidpotash.com). Anson Resources Ltd. has advanced lithium development projects contiguous to the northern boundary of our Green River Project and neighbouring to the south. Anson has a large initial resource, robust definitive feasibility study and has recently completed successful piloting operations through its partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, as well as an offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution. The Anson exploration targets encompass the combined Mississippian Leadville Formation and the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation brine-bearing clastic layers, which also underlie American Critical Minerals' entire project area (www.ansonresources.com)*.

In 2022, the U.S. imported approx. 96.5% of its annual potash requirements with domestic producers receiving a higher sales price due to proximity to market (intrepidpotash.com/ August 15, 2024, Investor Presentation). In March 2024, the US Senate introduced a bill to include key fertilizers and potash on the US Department of Interior list of Critical Minerals which already includes lithium and this process is well advanced with potash being added to the USGS Draft Critical Minerals List. In August 2025. Recent market estimates suggest that the global potash market is over US$50 billion annually and growing at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of close to 5%. Annual lithium demand is now estimated to be over 1 million tonnes globally and continuing to grow rapidly.***

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Clarke, President & CEO

Contact: (604)-551-9665

*American Critical Minerals' management cautions that results or discoveries on properties in proximity to the American Critical Minerals' properties may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

**A report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report - Green River Potash Project, Grand County, Utah, USA", prepared by Agapito Associates Inc., and dated effective September 12, 2012, quantifies the Green River Potash Project's potash exploration potential in the form of a NI 43-101 Exploration Target. The Exploration Target estimate was prepared in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). It should be noted that Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define them as Mineral Resources, and, while reasonable potential may exist, it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource under NI 43-101. The Exploration Target stated in the Agapito Report is not being reported as part of any Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve. A copy of the report can be accessed on the corporate website for the Company: www.acmineralscorp.com.

***United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024-potash.pdf).

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and information.

SOURCE: American Critical Minerals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What does Potash's addition to the US Critical Minerals List mean for APCOF stock?

The addition could benefit APCOF by making its Green River Project eligible for federal funding, streamlined permitting, and enhanced competitiveness due to potential import fees.

How much potash does the US currently import?

According to USGS, over 92% of US potash consumption is imported, mainly from Canada, former Soviet Union, and Middle East.

What recent government funding has been awarded to US potash projects?

Recent awards include a $14 million USDA grant to Sage Potash for a Utah facility and $3 million from DFC to Millennial Potash's Banio Project.

How much did APCOF invest in marketing services with Machai Capital?

APCOF engaged Machai Capital for a 12-month term with a $400,000 upfront retainer for digital marketing services.

What are the key benefits of being on the US Critical Minerals List?

Benefits include eligibility for federal funding, streamlined permitting processes, and enhanced competitiveness through potential import fees.