Star Metro - Alaska Energy Metals Provides Update On The Nikolai Nickel Project, Alaska / Permitting - Metallurgy - Government Collaboration

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 14, 2026 / Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSX-V:AEMC)(OTCQB:AKEMF) ("AEMC" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following corporate update outlining recent activities for the Nikolai Nickel Project, Alaska.

FAST-41 Permitting. In November 2025 AEMC's Nikolai Nickel project was accepted for coverage under the FAST-41 Transparency Dashboard ("Dashboard") by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council ("Permitting Council" or "Council"). An Environmental Assessment ("EA") is to be completed by the agencies with US Army Corp of Engineers ("USACE" or "Corps") as the lead coordinating agency. The Transparency Dashboard listing is intended to focus initially on infrastructure improvements supporting Nikolai, beginning with the rehabilitation and extension of the existing Rainy Creek Mining Trail, including installation of two temporary bridges, and an on-site camp.

Subsequent to the listing, the USACE determined that a Section 404 Clean Water Permit would be required following an Environmental Assessment. The Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") was also identified as a US federal agency that would have responsibility to review the project and if appropriate, to grant a Right of Way ("ROW"). That ROW application has been filed and accepted by the BLM Field Office in Glennallen, Alaska. In accordance with the Fast-41 process, a schedule was determined amongst the Permitting Council, USACE and BLM and published on the Dashboard. Public comments for the road project were solicited by USACE. The comment period closed on February 27, 2026. AEMC is scheduled to carry out wetlands mapping and an archaeological survey in summer 2026. USACE and BLM are subsequently scheduled to complete their review by late August 2026. While not part of the FAST-41 permitting process, State of Alaska agencies also have regulatory authority and must provide authorizations in order for the federal agencies to issue permits. AEMC is working with the State's Large Mine Permitting Team within the Office of Project Management and Permitting ("OPMP") for authorizations and permits that are to be issued by the State. Late last year, OPMP and the Governor of Alaska signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Permitting Council to maximize coordination between State regulatory agencies and the Fast-41 program to reduce permitting timelines.

Metallurgical work. AEMC, along with its consultants and SGS Laboratories in Quebec City, Canada has been performing various tests to determine the best flowsheet for recovery of metals from the Eureka deposit. Work to date shows that a bulk concentrate containing nickel sulfide (predominantly pentlandite), copper sulfide (predominantly chalcopyrite) and cobalt sulfide with platinum group metals can be produced. An iron - chrome concentrate can also be produced. Some of the nickel in the deposit is in the form of the iron - nickel alloy awaruite, some of which partitions to the magnetic concentrate and must subsequently be cleaned from it. Sequential flotation of copper and nickel with pyrrhotite suppression is also being investigated to 1) generate a cleaner, higher grade nickel concentrate, and 2) realize higher payability on copper. The work is ongoing and the Company anticipates publishing results in the coming months. AEMC is also preparing to assess hydrometallurgical recovery methods which have shown great success in the separation and recovery of high value metals from lower-grade disseminated sulfide ores like those found at Eureka. This technology could be particularly applicable for the Nikolai Project.

US Government Funding. AEMC continues to engage the Administration and key Government agencies on opportunities for coordinated participation in its critical minerals strategy through strategic funding, stakeholder inclusion and policy programs that incentivize domestic production and resilient supply chains. Recently, through the Department of War Defense Industrial Base Consortium ("DIBC") (of which AEMC is a member company), solicited a new call for projects to be considered for Defense Production Act Title III project funding. AEMC timely submitted its Nikolai project proposal. The proposal has received a "MET" rating with detailed proposals for projects in this category expected to be requested as early as May 2026.

Canwell Block Option. The Canwell claim block forms an important part of the Nikolai Project. Very high-grade nickel copper mineralization has been discovered at surface, and the sulfide mineralization is enriched in platinum group metals. A series of drill targets has been developed on the block based upon geophysical data, surface sampling and mapping. One final cash option payment of US$150,000 (plus inflation adjustment) will be made to the underlying owners in August 2026, securing AEMC's 100% ownership of the Canwell block. Pursuant to the option agreement, AEMC has advised the owners of its intention to make the payment. The Canwell claim block is shown in the following diagram.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Gregory Beischer, the Company's President & CEO, is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALS

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for U.S. national security and a bright energy future, all while generating superior returns for shareholders.

AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic Nikolai Project and related Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic metals for North America. In January 2026, AEMC's Nikolai Project was accepted for Fast-41 Transparency Dashboard listing to streamline federal permitting for overland access and man camp placement for the next phase of Eureka deposit drilling. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec; the Angliers - Belleterre project. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, technological innovation, carbon mitigation and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that environmental, social and governance performance is measured by action and led from the top.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Gregory Beischer"
Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO
Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-609-7149

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation). These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements do not guarantee future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to uncertainty relating to the estimation of mineral resources, regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

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

SOURCE: Alaska Energy Metals Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

G.Boudreau--SMC