Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2026) - Luma Hydrogen Corp. ("Luma" or the "Company"), a private Canadian exploration company focused on geologic (natural) hydrogen and helium, and critical minerals, is pleased to announce its formal launch, the release of its new corporate website at lumahydrogen.com, and the commencement of its inaugural exploration program on the Company's flagship Nova Scotia project.
HIGHLIGHTS
Luma has assembled one of the larger dedicated geologic hydrogen land positions in Atlantic Canada: 40 exploration licences covering approximately 400 km² across two provinces, anchored by ~274 km² (27,440 ha) position along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone in northern Nova Scotia and complemented by ~126 km² (12,550 ha) over ophiolite sequences in western Newfoundland.
Flagship Nova Scotia project: 30 licences (~274 km², 27,440 ha) along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone, the same regional structure hosting Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.'s (CSE: QIMC) reported high-purity hydrogen discovery drill holes. Luma's claims lie approximately 600 m to 2 km from those drill holes, with the nearest claim boundary less than 1 km away (Figure 1).
Summer 2026 exploration program: exploration program comprised of soil-gas surveys for both hydrogen and helium, prospecting, geological mapping, and conventional soil geochemistry sampling is being mobilized on its Nova Scotia claims.
Newfoundland ophiolite position: 10 licences (502 claim units, ~126 km², 12,550 ha) over the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex and Northern ophiolite sequence, the same ultramafic belt that hosts First Atlantic Nickel Corp.'s (TSXV: FAN) 125 km² Ophiolite-X project, offering serpentinization-driven hydrogen potential together with carbon-mineralization optionality.
Financing closed and path to public listing: Luma recently closed a C$550,000 non-brokered private placement to fund its summer exploration program targeting both geologic hydrogen and critical minerals with a Canadian public listing targeted for late 2026.
MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY
"Geologic hydrogen has moved from an academic curiosity to a legitimate exploration business in a remarkably short period of time, and Atlantic Canada has emerged as one of the most compelling addresses for it in North America," said Paul Ténière, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Luma. "We made a deliberate decision to move in quickly and acquire strategic claims in areas prospective for geologic hydrogen. As a result, we now hold a large, contiguous position along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone, the same deep-seated structure that hosts QIMC's reported high-purity hydrogen intersections 600 m to 2 km from our claims. We have also secured a second position on the ophiolite belt in western Newfoundland. We are excited to execute our exploration program with the goal of rapidly driving the project to the drilling stage."
"This summer's exploration program is about establishing Luma's own baseline for geologic hydrogen and critical minerals," added Dr. Allegra Hosford Scheirer, Ph.D., Luma's geologic hydrogen expert. "Soil-gas surveying for hydrogen and helium, paired with structural analysis, prospecting, and soil geochemistry surveys, is the most efficient way to test whether the plumbing that appears to be generating hydrogen on adjacent properties in the district is also working beneath our own claims. Helium is also an important part of the story as it is a common travelling companion of geologic hydrogen and an independent indicator of a working subsurface system."
SUMMER 2026 EXPLORATION PROGRAM
Luma's inaugural exploration program is designed to quickly advance its Nova Scotia and Newfoundland projects to a defined set of drill-ready targets. The program comprises:
Soil-gas testing: systematic sampling on grids and traverses across structurally favourable areas, analyzing for hydrogen (H2) and helium (He) together with associated gases, conducted under the Company's internal soil-gas testing procedure.
Prospecting, geological mapping, and soil geochemistry survey: reconnaissance mapping of structural corridors, prospecting and multi-element soil sampling over the same grids, providing a critical minerals dataset in a potential iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) region.
Structural analysis, geophysical interpretation, and drill target generation: interpretation of the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone architecture on Luma's ground to define migration pathways and potential trap geometries, supported by the reprocessing of historical onshore seismic data and airborne and ground gravity and magnetic data in both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Results from the exploration programs are expected to inform a geophysical data acquisition program (gravity, magnetics, or magnetotellurics (MT) methods) and an independent NI 43-101 technical report, along with drill-target definition.
LUMA'S PROJECT PORTFOLIO
Nova Scotia - Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone
Comprised of 30 exploration licences covering approximately 274 km² (27,440 ha) along one of the largest crustal-scale fault systems in Atlantic Canada. The Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone transects the Carboniferous Cumberland Basin, juxtaposing deep basement structures capable of channelling hydrogen upward against thick evaporite and shale sequences that can act as regional seals. Existing onshore seismic lines are available for reprocessing, and the licences sit within a developing hydrogen and helium corridor defined by third-party drilling and soil-gas work (Figure 2).
Figure 1: Luma's claims in Nova Scotia with recent QIMC results on adjacent properties
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Figure 2: Developing structural corridor in Nova Scotia hosting geologic hydrogen
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Newfoundland & Labrador - Western Newfoundland Ophiolite Belt
Comprised of 10 exploration licences comprising 502 claim units over approximately 126 km² (12,550 ha) of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex and a northern ophiolite sequence. The belt is dominated by iron-rich ultramafic rocks (peridotite and serpentinite) in which serpentinization reactions actively generate hydrogen. The same brucite-rich serpentinites are among the most reactive natural carbon dioxide sinks known, positioning the project for potential combined hydrogen and carbon-mineralization optionality over the longer term. Historical work has documented awaruite, nickel, copper and chromite occurrences within the licences.
Figure 3: Luma's claims in Newfoundland targeting ophiolite sequence that could host geologic hydrogen
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WHY GEOLOGIC HYDROGEN, AND WHY NOW
Geologic hydrogen, also referred to as natural hydrogen, is generated continuously in the subsurface where water reacts with iron-rich rocks. Where fault systems channel that hydrogen upward into sealed traps, it can accumulate in the same manner as conventional natural gas. It is produced, not manufactured, and when used, its primary emission is water (Figure 4).
More than US$500 million of strategic capital has moved into the geologic hydrogen sector in Canada and USA in under five years. Hydrogen has been produced from a natural accumulation in Mali for years, and listed explorers in Australia and North America have reported high-purity hydrogen intersections. Sitting potentially below grey hydrogen (US$1-$2/kg) and well below green hydrogen (US$3-$8/kg) on the cost curve, geologic hydrogen is being pursued on the basis that, for any commodity, the lowest-cost producer wins.
Figure 4: The geologic hydrogen cycle
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CORPORATE UPDATE AND PATH FORWARD
The Company recently closed a non-brokered private placement of common shares for gross proceeds of C$550,000. These funds will be applied primarily to the Company's summer 2026 exploration programs in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland targeting geologic hydrogen and the copper and cobalt potential of the licences, in addition to completing an independent NI 43-101 technical report, public listing preparation, and general working capital.
Following completion of the financing and the summer field season, the Company is targeting a public listing in Canada by way of a reverse takeover of a TSX Venture Exchange or Canadian Securities Exchange listed shell or CPC in late 2026, followed by additional financing and a maiden drilling program in 2027.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING ADJACENT PROPERTIES
This news release contains information with respect to adjacent or nearby properties in which the Company has no interest or right to explore or mine, including properties held by Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC), First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FAN) and others. References to soil-gas readings, drill results, market capitalizations, transactions or other information concerning these or any other third-party issuers are derived from public disclosure by those issuers and have not been independently verified by the Company. Readers are cautioned that mineral or hydrogen occurrences, results or discoveries on adjacent or nearby properties are not necessarily indicative of, and provide no assurance as to, the presence of hydrogen, helium, mineralization or any exploration results on the Company's properties. The Company has not conducted any drilling on its properties and has not established the presence of any hydrogen or helium accumulation on any of its licences.
QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared and approved by Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).
For further information on Luma Hydrogen including a corporate presentation, please visit lumahydrogen.com.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Paul Teniere
Luma Hydrogen Corp.
Suite 2001, 1969 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3R7 Canada
info@lumahydrogen.com
ABOUT LUMA HYDROGEN CORP.
Luma Hydrogen Corp. is a private Canadian exploration company focused on natural (geologic) hydrogen and helium in Atlantic Canada. The Company holds 40 exploration licences covering approximately 400 km² in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador, including a flagship position along the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone in Nova Scotia and a position over the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex in western Newfoundland. Luma's strategy is to apply conventional petroleum-systems thinking - source, migration, reservoir and seal - to a new class of clean energy resource, and to advance its projects to drill-ready status ahead of a public listing in Canada. Clean energy from the ground up.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and the timing and results thereof; the completion, timing, size and terms of the private placement and the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom; the preparation of an independent technical report; the Company's intention to complete a public listing in Canada and the anticipated timing and structure of such listing; anticipated drilling; the potential for natural hydrogen, helium, carbon mineralization or critical minerals on the Company's licences; the availability and applicability of government incentive programs; and the Company's business plans and objectives generally.
Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable as at the date hereof, including assumptions regarding the availability of financing on acceptable terms, the timely receipt of required permits and approvals, the availability of equipment, personnel and contractors, the continuation of a supportive regulatory and fiscal environment, and the accuracy of third-party information cited herein. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the highly speculative nature of exploration for natural hydrogen and helium, the absence of established commercial natural-hydrogen production outside of Mali, the absence of any established resource or reserve on the Company's properties, the fact that Luma is pre-discovery and has generated no exploration results of its own to date, regulatory and permitting risk, environmental risk, the risk that the private placement does not close on the terms, in the amount or within the timeframe currently contemplated, capital availability and dilution risk, market and commodity price conditions, the work and results of third-party operators referenced herein, title risk, and the risk that the Company does not complete a public listing at all or on the terms or within the timeframe currently contemplated that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. There can be no assurance that any hydrogen identified through surface sampling will correlate with commercial subsurface accumulations.
An investment in the Company is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Luma Hydrogen Corp. is a private company and its securities are currently not listed on any stock exchange.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310798
Source: Luma Hydrogen Corp.
