• Germany has recently released a new program allowing Rock Tech to apply for up to € 200 million governmental funding.
  
  
• The program is a key step toward levelling the playing field between European and overseas markets.

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2023 /CNW/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce that it is applying for additional public funding from the German government. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action ("BMWK") has recently released a new program in accordance with the EU Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) allowing the Company to apply for up to € 200million funding to realize its lithium converter project in Europe (the "Project").

The Company welcomes the German government's push to substantially increase support for projects along the battery supply chain. The aim of the program is to broadly strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the battery cell manufacturing ecosystem in Germany and Europe.

Rock Tech's CEO Dirk Harbecke says: "We've been very well supported by the City of Guben and the State of Brandenburg. They have been excellent partners from the start. And that's why I am also very pleased with the federal government's funding prospects for the German battery industry, which I see as a key step toward levelling the playing field between European and overseas markets."

Rock Tech's COO Klaus Schmitz states: "Rock Tech has taken the Project to a high degree of maturity in terms of planning and preparation, so construction could get started soon. However, the start of material works is currently contingent on an approval of subsidies from the German federal ministry. We will assess implications to the construction plan throughout the process."

The Company is in contact with related authorities and is looking forward a positive preliminary funding commitment no later than Q1 2024.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, 
Dirk Harbecke, Chairman & CEO

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the door-step of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake spodumene project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com

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

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this news release include: estimations or predictions about the outcome or amount of the available fundings within the subsidy fund; the eligibility of Rock Tech and its subsidiary for the program; the duration of the decision process or if Rock Tech is chosen for funding; and the Company's future plans and expectations as described in the section "About Rock Tech".

Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The material factors or assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements include: the Company's ability to procure equipment necessary for its business; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; and that financing and feedstock supply will be available to the Company on commercial terms. There may also be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators.

No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.