<div id="readability-page-1"><article>West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2026) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the &#34;Company&#34; or &#34;Surge&#34;) is pleased to announce that former Berkshire Hathaway Energy executive, Mr. Richard Weech, has joined the Board of the Company as an Independent Director.Mr. Weech is an executive professional with a thirty-five-year record of leading and contributing to high-achieving organizations delivering superior results in a variety of diverse leadership, financial, and operating roles in public and private businesses. He has extensive experience in leading and building businesses, developing people, raising capital, strategic planning, business development, joint venture structuring and risk management. Before his retirement in 2022, Mr. Weech spent 2014 through July 2022 responsible for leading the Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiaries, BHE Investments and BHE Renewables, through significant asset and financial growth that included developing and evaluating lithium extraction opportunities. Mr. Weech holds the CA, CPA, CFA professional designations and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Alberta.Mr. Weech commented: &#34;I am excited to join the Surge Board of Directors and contribute to the successful development of a world class lithium critical mineral opportunity.&#34;In connection with the appointment of Mr. Weech to the Company's Board of Directors, the Company has received the resignation of Mr. Ted O'Connor. The Company wishes to thank Mr. O'Connor for his contribution as a director and wishes him well in his future endeavors.The company is also granting a total of 5,000,000 stock options, exercisable for a period of five years, at an exercise price of $0.60 cents a share to certain directors, officers, and consultants.Qualified PersonAlan J. Morris, MSc, CPG of Spring Creek, Nevada, Geological Advisor to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.About Surge Battery Metals Inc. Surge Battery Metals Inc., a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on development of high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering battery electric storage and electric vehicles. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and a listing on the OTCQX Market in the USA, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration.About Evolution Mining Limited Evolution Mining is a leading, globally relevant gold miner. Evolution operates six mines, comprising five wholly-owned mines - Cowal in New South Wales, Ernest Henry and Mt Rawdon in Queensland, Mungari in Western Australia, and Red Lake in Ontario, Canada, and an 80% share in Northparkes in New South Wales.About Nevada North Lithium LLC Nevada North Lithium LLC owns the Nevada North Lithium Project southeast of Jackpot, Nevada about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County. The first three rounds of drilling at the project identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 4,300 meters and a known width of greater than 1,500 meters. Highly anomalous soil values and geophysical surveys suggest there is potential for the clay horizons to be much greater in extent. The Nevada North Lithium Project has a pit-constrained Inferred Resource containing an estimated 11.24 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 3010 ppm Li at a 1,250-ppm cutoff. The recently completed PEA for the project reported an after-tax NPV8% US $9.17 Billion and after-tax IRR of 22.8% at $24,000/t LCE and an OPEX of US $5,243/t LCE. On behalf of the Board of Directors&#34;Greg Reimer&#34;Greg Reimer, Director, President &amp; CEOContact Information Email : info@surgebatterymetals.com Phone : 604-662-8184 Website: surgebatterymetals.comKeep up-to-date with Surge Battery Metals: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTubeNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document may contain certain &#34;Forward-Looking Statements&#34; within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words &#34;anticipate&#34;, &#34;believe&#34;, &#34;estimate&#34;, &#34;expect&#34;, &#34;target, &#34;plan&#34; or &#34;planned&#34;, &#34;possible&#34;, &#34;potential&#34;, &#34;forecast&#34;, &#34;intend&#34;, &#34;may&#34;, &#34;schedule&#34; and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations, and intentions with respect to development of its business and of its Nevada properties may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions (including US government subsidies or incentives) on its ability to secure further financing or funding of its Nevada properties. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon several assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water related risks) and social risks, contingencies, and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.<img id="corporateNewsLogo" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/288797_ce0bacd3c4c9e8de_logo.jpg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="200" height="53" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9838/288797_ce0bacd3c4c9e8de_logo.jpg"/>To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288797<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://api.newsfilecorp.com/newsinfo/288797/375?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="1" height="1" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://api.newsfilecorp.com/newsinfo/288797/375"/></article></div>

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Surge Battery Metals Inc. has appointed Mr. Richard Weech, a former executive at Berkshire Hathaway Energy, as an Independent Director. Weech brings over 35 years of experience in leadership, financial, and operational roles. He will contribute to the company's lithium development efforts. The appointment follows the resignation of Mr. Ted O'Connor. Surge is also granting 5,000,000 stock options to directors and consultants. The company focuses on lithium exploration in Nevada, with significant resources identified in its Nevada North Lithium Project.

Surge Announces Former Berkshire Hathaway Energy Executive Mr. Richard Weech Joins the Board as an Independent Director | NILIF Stock News