- Newly acquired proprietary 2D seismic data has allowed for delineation of a technically robust Natural Hydrogen drill target at "Bracken" on the Grasslands Project along the Saskatchewan-Montana border
- Bracken will test a second "play concept" with its own unique trap and seal mechanisms compared to Lawson, Canada's first Natural Hydrogen drilling discovery 325 km to the northeast
- Bracken, on a different trend than Genesis, further highlights scale and repeatability potential of Natural Hydrogen accumulations across the province of Saskatchewan where MAX Power owns Canada's largest permitted land package for this emerging new primary energy source
- Drilling at Bracken will occur in parallel with advancement of Lawson toward potential commerciality
MAX Power Saskatchewan Natural Hydrogen Documentary Video
https://www.maxpowermining.com/NaturalHydrogen-NewEra/
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF FRANKFURT: 89N) ("MAX Power" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in parallel with the ongoing analytical testing, resource modelling, and resource estimation program at its Lawson Natural Hydrogen Discovery in the heart of the 475-km-long Genesis Trend, the Company has identified a robust target for near-term drilling of a second "play concept" for Natural Hydrogen in Saskatchewan. Licensing is underway to commence the "Bracken" well along the Saskatchewan-Montana border in February.
With a Natural Hydrogen discovery now confirmed at Lawson, MAX Power is advancing toward potential commercialization while simultaneously testing additional play concepts across Saskatchewan. The Bracken well represents an important step in demonstrating basin-scale continuity, supporting the geological team's interpretation that Natural Hydrogen systems in Saskatchewan are repeatable and scalable across multiple trends.
Bracken Highlights
- The Bracken well location was generated through an integrated geophysical and geological workflow leveraging 34.3-line kilometers of newly acquired proprietary 2D seismic data combined with legacy 2D seismic.
- This dataset was rigorously interpreted to delineate basement architecture, structural and stratigraphic pathways, and prospective migration corridors considered critical to Natural Hydrogen and associated clean gas accumulation.
- Like Genesis to the northeast, the Grasslands Project is considered prospective for multiple potential Natural Hydrogen discoveries that may also include helium.
- Bracken and the broader Grasslands Project is benefiting from, and informing, the Company's in-house AI-assisted Large Earth Model Integration (LEMI) platform known as MAXX LEMI, MAX Power's proprietary tool to optimize Natural Hydrogen exploration and drill target selection.
Mr. Steve Halabura, MAX Power's Chief Geoscientist, commented: "We're very excited regarding Bracken given the amount of data we have from the area and all that we've learned from Lawson. Bracken is where the MAX Power team first discovered Natural Hydrogen in the sub-surface in Saskatchewan, through historical drilling, and the broader area is a known helium fairway. At Bracken, we'll be testing a stratigraphic play concept vs. the structural play concept successfully developed at Lawson and across the Genesis Trend. There are some similarities in the Natural Hydrogen geological model between Bracken and Lawson, but each has its own unique trap and seal mechanisms."
Mr. Ran Narayanasamy, MAX Power CEO, added: "We continue to move at a rapid pace with respect to Natural Hydrogen exploration and development in Saskatchewan where we have the advantage of a mature and favorable policy framework. This also highlights the stark timeline difference between exploration and potential commercialization of Natural Hydrogen vs. traditional mineral and metal projects. This is months to molecules, not years. Our goal is to quickly unlock scalable, low-carbon energy resources in Saskatchewan, and leverage the MAXX LEMI model for Natural Hydrogen on a global basis."
Bracken and the Grasslands Project
The Bracken prospect forms part of a broader, regionally extensive exploration fairway across MAX Power's 75-km-wide permitted Grasslands Project. This emerging play has meaningful district-scale potential, with Bracken serving as a key calibration point for future drilling locations. Success at Bracken would materially de-risk additional prospects already defined within the seismic and MAXX LEMI framework, positioning MAX Power to rapidly advance a growing inventory of follow-up targets across its highly prospective Saskatchewan portfolio.
Figure 1: Grasslands Project Map
Why This Matters to Investors
Advancing a second, independently derived Natural Hydrogen play concept a few hundred kilometers from Lawson in the southwest corner of the province reinforces that the Company's opportunity extends beyond a single discovery or trend and into a potentially very large basin-scale system. Lawson has validated MAX Power's geological model for Natural Hydrogen, a model that includes multiple play concepts - the second of which will be tested at Bracken with strong confidence given recently interpreted proprietary 2D seismic data combined with initial success at Lawson. As commercialization efforts advance at Lawson, drilling at Bracken provides an opportunity to further define scale, potential economics, and long-term development possibilities for Natural Hydrogen in Saskatchewan.
Options and RSUs Granted
The Company announces that it has granted 3,415,000 stock options at an exercise price of $1.08 with a 3-year expiry, and 2,990,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to management, directors, and consultants of the company. The stock options and RSUs will vest in accordance with vesting terms to be determined by management and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's stock option and restricted stock unit plan.
MAX Power Enters into Marketing Agreements
The Company has entered into a service agreement with Apollo Shareholder Relations Ltd. ("Apollo") to provide investor awareness and investor communications services. Under the agreement, Apollo will conduct digital investor relations and communications activities intended to increase awareness and understanding of the Company and its business.
The agreement has an initial term of six (6) months, commencing January 23, 2026, and may thereafter continue on a month-to-month basis. Under the agreement, the Company will pay Apollo an aggregate cash fee of $45,000, payable over the initial term, and will grant 100,000 stock options, subject to board approval. The stock options will be issued in accordance with the Company's stock option plan and applicable securities laws. The agreement contains no performance-based compensation.
Apollo and the Company are arm's length and unaffiliated parties. At the time of the agreement, Apollo and its principals advised that they did not hold any direct or indirect interest in the securities of the Company.
Contact information for Apollo Shareholder Relations Ltd.
4505 Waldy Road
Cowichan Bay, British Columbia V0R 1N2
Principal: Jazz Chodak
Email: jazz@apollorelations.com
MAX Power has also entered into a communications services agreement with BW Venture Strategies Inc. ("Venture Strategies"), effective January 19, 2026, to provide public relations and media relations services, including strategic communications and media outreach.
The agreement has a term of six (6) months, with total fees of $10,000 per month, payable in cash. Venture Strategies is not providing investor relations services as defined under Canadian Securities Exchange policies, will not receive any equity compensation, and is arm's length to the Company.
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Figure 2: Drilling of Lawson Discovery Near Central Butte, SK, in November 2025
Recent Videos
The Genesis Trend's Industrial Corridor
https://youtube.com/shorts/IAgALH_s3mI
MAX Power Leaps at Lawson
MAX Power drills into Natural Hydrogen in Canada's first-ever dedicated Natural Hydrogen well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr4Ha06__Eg
Watch the Drill in Action
Video captures the historic start of drilling at Lawson on the Genesis Trend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eguNGAfdIek
History in The Making at Lawson - Video Immediately Ahead of Drill Rig Setup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHazk9Sy4E
MAX Power Saskatchewan Natural Hydrogen Documentary Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXGDtTUbJ2c
About MAX Power
MAX Power is an innovative mineral and energy exploration company focused on North America's shift to decarbonization. The Company is a first mover in the rapidly growing Natural Hydrogen sector where it has built a dominant district-scale land position in Saskatchewan with approximately 1.3 million acres (521,000 hectares) of permits, plus an additional 5.7 million acres under application, covering prime exploration ground prospective for large-volume accumulations of Natural Hydrogen. Canada's first-ever well specifically targeting Natural Hydrogen has been drilled by MAX Power at the Lawson target on the Genesis Trend, confirming a working subsurface system. MAX Power also holds a portfolio of properties in the United States and Canada focused on critical minerals. These properties are highlighted by a 2024 diamond drilling discovery at the Willcox Playa Lithium Project in southeast Arizona, 100%-owned by MAX Power's U.S. subsidiary Homeland Critical Minerals Corp.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Ran Narayanasamy, CEO
MAX Power Mining Corp.
info@maxpowermining.com
For further information, please contact:
Chad Levesque
Ph: 1-306-981-4753
Email: chad@maxpowermining.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which includes, without limitation, statements about: the interpretation of exploration and drilling results; the potential existence, size, continuity, recoverability, and commercial viability of Natural Hydrogen accumulations; the timing, scope, design, and success of anticipated appraisal, testing, and drilling programs; the advancement of the Lawson discovery towards potential commercialization; the development, integration, and prospective use of MAXX LEMI; and the Company's broader Natural Hydrogen strategy.
Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions, including, among other things, assumptions regarding the Company's ability to execute its work programs as planned, the availability and performance of equipment and personnel, regulatory timelines and approvals, geological continuity and reservoir characteristics, market conditions, and access to sufficient capital on acceptable terms.
Forward-looking information is inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation: exploration, appraisal, and development risks; the ability to obtain and maintain required permits and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; availability and cost of equipment and qualified personnel; geological, geophysical, and technical uncertainties; fluctuations in commodity and energy market prices; general economic conditions; and the Company's ability to secure additional financing on acceptable terms. There can be no assurance that the Company will complete its planned drilling or related programs as currently contemplated or within the anticipated timelines, or that any such programmes, if completed, will be successful or result in commercial production.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is provided as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise such information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company's business is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/473b2911-3ca3-42c6-a4c7-e84be2c5c11e
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42409854-0d1d-42f5-bcb6-6023ecc1fa29
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ffe217b-c06b-4988-9b03-1f3e2a7053b9
