Critical Metals Taps Expert Team to Fast-Track Greenland Rare Earth Mine

NEW YORK, NY – January 30, 2026 – In a significant move to accelerate the development of a Western-controlled rare earth supply chain, Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) today announced the appointment of a powerhouse project delivery team for its flagship Tanbreez Project in Southern Greenland. The strategic hires signal a major operational push to bring one of the world's largest rare earth deposits online, positioning the company as a pivotal player in the global race to secure minerals essential for clean energy, defense, and next-generation technologies.

The announcement comes as Western nations urgently seek to reduce their dependence on China, which currently dominates both the mining and, more critically, the processing of rare earth elements (REEs). By assembling a team of seasoned industry veterans, Critical Metals Corp. is signaling its intent to execute the ambitious project with discipline and speed, transforming Greenland into a new frontier for strategic resources.

Assembling a World-Class Execution Team

To tackle the immense logistical and technical challenges of developing a major mine in the Arctic, the company has brought on board a roster of specialists with decades of experience delivering complex, large-scale resource projects globally. The appointments are a clear statement that the company is prioritizing proven operational expertise to de-risk the project's path to production.

Leading the charge as Senior Project Manager is Mr. Mike Begley, a civil engineer with over 40 years of experience managing multi-billion-dollar resource and infrastructure projects for Tier 1 companies. He is joined by Mr. Tony Halliday, the new Group Process & Engineering Manager, a chemical engineer who recently played a key role in the successful design and commissioning of the Tianqi Lithium Hydroxide Plant in Australia. His expertise will be vital in developing the complex processing flowsheet for Tanbreez's unique mineralogy.

Further bolstering the team's metallurgical prowess is Emeritus Professor Tony Tang, an independent consultant with deep experience in REE processing from his work with industry giants like Lynas Rare Earths. His academic and practical background, including leading major battery materials pilot plant programs, brings a crucial layer of technical validation to the project. Other key hires include specialists in project management, geology, and metallurgy, such as Dr. Mike Wort, Paul Rundel, and Col Llyod, who collectively bring over a century of hands-on experience in mineral processing and exploration.

Critical Metals Corp. Chairman, Tony Sage, commented on the strategic importance of these hires. “These recent appointments, together with the existing Tanbreez team led by Greg Barnes, which has more than 60 years of combined operational experience in Greenland, position the Company to progress the Tanbreez Project in a disciplined and efficient manner.”

Greenland's Geopolitical Prize

The Tanbreez deposit is not just another mine; it is a strategic asset of global significance. Located in Southern Greenland with year-round direct shipping access to the North Atlantic, the project is one of the world's largest undeveloped REE deposits. Crucially, it boasts an unusually high concentration of heavy rare earths—such as dysprosium and terbium—which are essential for the high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines. This makes the deposit particularly valuable and a direct answer to a market segment almost entirely controlled by China.

The project's geopolitical importance has not gone unnoticed. The U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank has given Critical Metals Corp. preliminary approval to apply for a loan of up to $120 million, a move explicitly aimed at supporting supply chains independent of foreign adversaries. This potential federal backing underscores the alignment of the Tanbreez project with Western strategic interests.

Navigating the Path to Production

While the project secured its 30-year exploitation license from the Greenlandic government in 2020, the new team is focused on the immediate next steps. Final engineering and design activities are underway, and the company is preparing for the construction of a pilot plant facility, pending final local approvals. The team has already been interfacing with the Danish engineering firm NIRAS and stakeholders across Greenland, the United States, and Europe.

A major regulatory hurdle was cleared in late 2025 when Greenland's Environment Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA) approved the project's geochemical test work reports. This approval was a key prerequisite for advancing the site's development and was seen as a positive signal of constructive engagement with Greenlandic authorities.

Financially, the project is building significant momentum. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) from March 2025 projected a robust pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of approximately $3 billion. To fund the estimated $200-$290 million in capital required, the company has been actively securing capital. In late 2025, it announced a $50 million private investment (PIPE) from an institutional investor. This is in addition to a planned $10 million exploration investment that will allow Critical Metals Corp. to increase its ownership stake in the project to a commanding 92.5%.

Securing a Western Supply Chain

Beyond extracting the ore, Critical Metals Corp. is actively building a vertically integrated supply chain. The company has already secured offtake agreements for 25% of its initial projected output, de-risking the project commercially before the first ton of earth is moved.

A 10-year agreement with Ucore Rare Metals Inc. will see Tanbreez supply concentrate to Ucore’s new processing facility in Louisiana, which is being developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. A second agreement with US-based processor REalloys further solidifies the project's role in establishing a North American mine-to-market ecosystem for critical minerals.

This strategy, combined with the company's other key asset—the fully permitted Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria—positions Critical Metals Corp. to become a cornerstone supplier for Europe and its allies. By assembling a world-class team to execute on its Greenlandic prize, the company is taking a decisive step toward turning strategic ambition into operational reality, with profound implications for the future of global technology and energy security.