We invited CleanTech Lithium to comment on the allegations of abuse presented by Earthworks and the Colla Indigenous Community of the Comuna of Copiapó in its letter to the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). The company responded.

"Re: Invitation to respond - CleanTech in BHRRC 2nd December 2024

CleanTech Lithium reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, transparency, and compliance with Chilean and international standards in response to concerns raised by certain members of the Colla Indigenous Community. Since 2022, the Company has actively engaged in dialogue with communities within its area of influence, despite their distance from the Laguna Verde project site. Certain invitations from the Company to the Colla community to participate in this dialogue, review project information, and provide feedback for the ongoing pre-feasibility study have gone unanswered.

CleanTech has successfully established agreements with three indigenous communities, incorporating their input into project development discussions. This co-signed alliance is a first for lithium production in the Atacama region of Chile. The Company is committed to using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), an innovative technology endorsed by Chilean authorities as a more sustainable alternative to traditional evaporation methods and presents an opportunity to reduce water and surface impact. While DLE is an emerging technology, CleanTech remains transparent about its development and environmental assessments.

The concerns raised will be addressed in the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Laguna Verde which is currently underway and targeted for completion in Q1 2025. The Company will also start the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, ensuring all project impacts and mitigation measures are fully disclosed to stakeholders. Information has and will continue to be shared with authorities, academia, and communities. For example, the lab-scale DLE equipment is currently installed at the University of Atacama for students to conduct their own research projects.

The Company remains fully aligned with Chilean legislation and international frameworks such as the UN Global Compact and invites the Colla community and Earthworks to engage collaboratively for a sustainable future. We are committed to developing our lithium projects in Chile using more sustainable technology and in alliance with the native peoples that inhabit the territory.

*ENDS**"