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LEADING EDGE MATERIALS PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE NORR KARR HREE PROJECT

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Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) has submitted supplementary information for its Norra Kärr Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) Project exploitation concession application in Sweden. The submission addresses environmental impact queries from regional stakeholders and County Administrative Boards.

The project has undergone significant improvements, featuring a 65% smaller operational footprint and focusing solely on extraction and mineral processing. The Norra Kärr deposit, discovered by the Geological Survey of Sweden in the early 1900s, is recognized as one of Europe's richest HREE deposits, particularly for dysprosium and terbium.

This development comes amid recent geopolitical tensions, with China's dominance in the rare earth supply chain and recent export restrictions leading to substantial price increases for HREEs. The project aims to establish a secure European supply chain for critical rare earth elements.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) ha presentato informazioni integrative per la domanda di concessione relativa al Progetto Norra Kärr sulle terre rare pesanti (HREE) in Svezia. L’invio risponde a domande sull’impatto ambientale poste da stakeholder regionali e dalle County Administrative Boards.

Il progetto ha registrato significative migliorie, con una riduzione del 65% della impronta operativa e con una focalizzazione esclusiva sull’estrazione e la lavorazione mineraria. Il giacimento di Norra Kärr, scoperto dall’Ufficio Geologico della Svezia agli inizi del XX secolo, è riconosciuto come uno dei più ricchi depositi di HREE in Europa, in particolare per disprosio e terbio.

Questa evoluzione avviene in un contesto di tensioni geopoliche recenti, con la dominanza cinese nella catena di approvvigionamento di terre rare e le recenti restrizioni all’esportazione che hanno provocato aumenti sostanziali dei prezzi degli HREE. Il progetto mira a stabilire una catena di fornitura europea sicura per gli elementi delle terre rare critici.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) ha presentado información complementaria para la solicitud de explotación del Proyecto Norra Kärr de elementos de tierras raras pesadas (HREE) en Suecia. La entrega aborda preguntas sobre impacto ambiental formuladas por actores regionales y las Juntas Administrativas Provinciales.

El proyecto ha experimentado mejoras significativas, con una reducción del 65% de su huella operativa y centrado exclusivamente en extracción y procesamiento de minerales. El yacimiento Norra Kärr, descubierto por el Servicio Geológico de Suecia a principios del siglo XX, es reconocido como uno de los yacimientos de HREE más ricos de Europa, especialmente para disprosio y terbio.

Este avance se produce en un contexto de tensiones geopolíticas recientes, con la dominancia de China en la cadena de suministro de tierras raras y recientes restricciones a la exportación que han provocado aumentos sustanciales en los precios de los HREE. El proyecto busca asegurar una cadena de suministro europea para los elementos críticos de tierras raras.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF)은 스웨덴의 Norra Kärr 중·희토류(HREE) 광산 개발 허가 신청에 대한 보충 정보를 제출했습니다. 이 제출은 지역 이해관계자와 주(州) 행정 위원회가 제기한 환경 영향 질의에 답합니다.

프로젝트는 운영 발자국이 65% 감소하는 등 중요한 개선을 이루었으며 채굴 및 광물 가공에만 집중하고 있습니다. 20세기 초 스웨덴 지질조사국이 발견한 Norra Kärr 매장지는 유럽에서 가장 풍부한 HREE 매장지 중 하나로 인정되며, 특히 디스프로슘과 터븀에 있어 우수합니다.

최근의 지정학적 긴장 속에서 중국이 희토류 공급망을 지배하고 수출 제한이 HREE 가격을 크게 상승시키며 나타난 상황에서 이 발전이 이루어졌습니다. 이 프로젝트는 중요한 희토류 원소에 대한 유럽 공급망을 확보하는 것을 목표로 합니다.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) a soumis des informations complémentaires pour la demande de concession d’exploitation du projet Norra Kärr sur les éléments des terres rares lourdes (HREE) en Suède. Cette soumission répond à des questions sur l’impact environnemental posées par les parties prenantes régionales et les conseils administratifs du comté.

Le projet a connu des améliorations importantes, avec une empreinte opérationnelle réduite de 65% et une focalisation exclusive sur l’extraction et le traitement minéral. Le gisement Norra Kärr, découvert par le Geological Survey of Sweden au début du XXe siècle, est reconnu comme l’un des gisements de HREE les plus riches d’Europe, en particulier pour le dysprosium et le terbium.

Cette évolution intervient dans un contexte de tensions géopolitiques récentes, avec la domination de la Chine sur la chaîne d’approvisionnement des terres rares et des restrictions à l’exportation qui ont entraîné des hausses importantes des prix des HREE. Le projet vise à établir une chaîne d’approvisionnement européenne sûre pour les éléments critiques des terres rares.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) hat ergänzende Informationen zu dem Antrag auf Abbaugenehmigung des Norra Kärr Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) Projekts in Schweden eingereicht. Die Einreichung beantwortet Umweltwirkungsfragen von regionalen Interessengruppen und Landratsämtern.

Das Projekt hat bedeutende Verbesserungen erfahren, mit einer um 65% reduzierten betrieblichen Fußabdruck und einer Fokussierung ausschließlich auf Abbau und Mineralverarbeitung. Die Norra Kärr-Lagerstätte, von der Geological Survey of Sweden Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts entdeckt, gilt als eines der reichsten HREE-Vorkommen Europas, insbesondere für Dysprosium und Terbium.

Diese Entwicklung erfolgt vor dem Hintergrund geopolitischer Spannungen, angesichts der Dominanz Chinas in der Seltenen-Erden-Lieferkette und jüngster Exportbeschränkungen, die zu deutlichen Preiserhöhungen für HREE führen. Das Projekt zielt darauf ab, eine sichere europäische Versorgungskette für kritische Seltene Erden zu schaffen.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) قدمت معلومات إضافية لطلب امتياز استغلال مشروع Norra Kärr لعناصر الأرض النادرة الثقيلة (HREE) في السويد. تتناول الإضافة أسئلة تأثير بيئي من أصحاب المصلحة الإقليميين ومجالس المحافظات.

شهد المشروع تحسناً ملحوظاً، مع خفض بصمة التشغيل بنسبة 65% والتركيز حصراً على الاستخراج والمعالجة المعدنية. يقع راسب Norra Kärr، الذي اكتشفه المسح الجيولوجي السويدي في أوائل القرن العشرين، وهو من أغنى مكامن HREE في أوروبا، خاصةً الديسبروسيا والربيديوم.

يأتي هذا التطور في ظل توترات جيوسياسية حديثة، مع هيمنة الصين على سلسلة إمداد العناصر النادرة والقيود التصديرية الأخيرة التي أدت إلى ارتفاعات كبيرة في أسعار HREE. يهدف المشروع إلى إقامة سلسلة إمداد أوروبية آمنة لعناصر الأرض النادرة الحرجة.

Leading Edge Materials (OTCQB:LEMIF) 已提交关于瑞典 Norra Kärr 重稀土元素(HREE)项目开发特许权申请的补充信息。该补充回应了来自区域利益相关者和县级行政委员会的环境影响相关质询。

该项目经历了显著改进,运营足迹缩小65%,现仅专注于开采与矿物加工。Norra Kärr 矿床由瑞典地质调查局在20世纪初发现,被公认为欧洲最富有的 HREE 矿床之一,尤其在镝和铽方面。

此进展发生在当前地缘政治紧张局势之际,中国在稀土供应链中的主导地位及最近的出口限制已导致 HREE 价格大幅上涨。该项目旨在建立欧洲对关键稀土元素的安全供应链。

Positive
  • Project redesign achieves 65% smaller operational footprint with reduced environmental impact
  • Norra Kärr recognized as one of Europe's richest HREE deposits by Swedish Geological Survey
  • Strategic positioning to address EU's heavy rare earth supply constraints amid Chinese export restrictions
  • 15 years of development work demonstrates project viability and expertise
Negative
  • Project still requires comprehensive Environmental Permitting process approval
  • Previous local community concerns about environmental impact need to be addressed
  • Dependency on regulatory approvals for mining lease creates uncertainty

LEADING EDGE MATERIALS PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE NORR KÄRR HREE PROJECT

Vancouver, September 21, 2025 – Leading Edge Materials Corp. (“Leading Edge Materials” or the “Company”) (TSXV: LEM) (Nasdaq First North: LEMSE) (OTCQB: LEMIF) (FRA: 7FL) has through its 100% owned Swedish subsidiary Greenna Mineral AB (“GMAB”) submitted supplementary information in respect of the Company’s application for an Exploitation Concession – 25-year mining lease - for the Norra Kärr Heavy Rare Earth Elements Project (“HREE”).

The supplements have been prepared in response to requests by the County Administrative Boards of Jönköping and Östergötland and statements from various regional stakeholders for additional information on the possible environmental impacts of the project. The Company’s response has now been sent to the Mining Inspectorate (Sw. Bergsstaten) for further review.

China dominates all stages of the rare earth elements supply chain from mining to permanent magnet manufacturing; a position built over decades through a comprehensive state-directed and funded industrial policy.   Europe relies heavily on China for HREEs. 

On 24 July, the EU successfully negotiated a relaxation of REE export restrictions imposed by China in April. The current geopolitics of REEs underscores the urgent requirement for the establishment of secure and reliable critical raw materials supply chains in Europe. The earlier export restrictions led to substantial price increases for HREEs, particularly dysprosium and terbium, due to their limited availability outside of Chinese sources. The Norra Kärr deposit, which contains significant quantities of HREEs, including dysprosium and terbium, uniquely positions the Norra Kärr project in addressing these supply constraints.

The Geological Survey of Sweden (“SGU”) in its capacity as an expert authority for issues relating to geology and minerals in Sweden has stated, with the respect to the Company’s application for an mining lease, that the deposit at Norra Kärr is very important for Sweden's and the EU's supply of rare earth metals, and that Norra Kärr is one of Europe's richest deposits for these minerals – especially with regard to heavy rare earth elements - the SGU discovered Norra Kärr in the early 1900s and designated it of national interest for its minerals in 2011.

Kurt Budge CEO comments:

"We are confident that we have comprehensively addressed all questions and concerns raised during this permitting stage. With over 15 years of development work on Norra Kärr since 2009, every aspect of the project has undergone thorough investigation and analysis.

Our Swedish team brings deep expertise and directly relevant experience to this Exploitation Concession application, giving us strong confidence in our ability to develop Norra Kärr successfully while maintaining full environmental protection and delivering the critical Heavy Rare Earth Elements that European permanent magnet manufacturers require.

We are actively engaging with local communities to highlight how significantly the current Norra Kärr project differs from previous plans. The new approach features a 65% smaller operational footprint, streamlined operations focused solely on extraction and mineral processing, enhanced commercial potential through valuable HREE and industrial mineral products, and substantially reduced environmental impact.

While important work remains through the comprehensive Environmental Permitting process, the Greenna Mineral team looks forward to collaborating with local stakeholders, establishing operations that benefit the local community, and supporting Sweden's leadership position in European critical raw materials production."

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Leading Edge Materials Corp.

Kurt Budge, CEO

For further information, please contact the Company at:
info@leadingedgematerials.com
www.leadingedgematerials.com

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www.leadingedgematerials.com

About Leading Edge Materials

Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on developing a portfolio of critical raw material projects located in the European Union. Critical raw materials are determined as such by the European Union based on their economic importance and supply risk. They are directly linked to high growth technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and permanent magnets for electric motors, wind turbines and defense applications. The portfolio of projects includes the 100% owned Woxna Graphite mine (Sweden), 100% owned Norra Kärr Heavy Rare Earth Elements project (Sweden), and the 51% owned Bihor Sud Nickel Cobalt exploration alliance (Romania).

Additional Information

The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above, on September 21, 2025, at 11:30 PM Vancouver time.

Leading Edge Materials is listed on the TSXV under the symbol “LEM”, OTCQB under the symbol “LEMIF” and Nasdaq First North Stockholm under the symbol “LEMSE”. Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning (“SKMG”) is the Company’s Certified Adviser for the Nasdaq First North Growth Market (Stockholm) and may be contacted via email ca@skmg.se or by phone +46 (0)8 913 008.

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute “forward-looking information”, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company’s future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, changes in the Company’s intended use of proceeds from the Private Placement, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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FAQ

What is the current status of Leading Edge Materials' Norra Kärr HREE project?

Leading Edge Materials has submitted supplementary environmental impact information for its 25-year mining lease application, responding to queries from regional stakeholders and County Administrative Boards.

How does the new Norra Kärr project design differ from previous plans?

The new design features a 65% smaller operational footprint, focuses solely on extraction and mineral processing, and offers enhanced commercial potential through HREE and industrial mineral products with reduced environmental impact.

Why is the Norra Kärr HREE project significant for Europe?

The project is crucial for reducing Europe's dependence on Chinese rare earth elements, particularly dysprosium and terbium, and has been designated of national interest by Sweden's Geological Survey as one of Europe's richest HREE deposits.

What are the main challenges facing LEMIF's Norra Kärr project?

The project faces challenges including pending environmental permit approvals, addressing local community concerns, and completing the comprehensive Environmental Permitting process.

How long has Leading Edge Materials been developing the Norra Kärr project?

The company has been developing the Norra Kärr project for over 15 years since 2009, conducting thorough investigations and analyses of all project aspects.
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