[Ferro-Alloys.com] ARENA MILESTONE 1 COMPLETE A$1,000,000 CASH PAYMENT RECEIVED

Highlights

•Firebird has received the first A$1.0 million cash payment under the Australian Government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Battery Breakthrough Initiative (BBI) grant program.

•All key Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP) Milestone 1 deliverables have been completed ahead of schedule and within budget, including site selection, placement of all major equipment orders and completion of a comprehensive Risk Management Plan.

•The non-dilutive ARENA funding is matched by existing Company cash reserves, with a further A$1.0 million expected to be received over the coming quarters as Firebird achieves additional ADP assembly and commissioning milestones.

•Firebird will relocate to the Osborne Park, Western Australia ADP facility next month, with site establishment and Milestone 2 development activities now underway.

•All major process equipment to be sourced from China has been independently verified as compliant with Australian electrical standards following an in-country inspection by the Company's Australian electrical contractor.

•Commercial engagement continues to accelerate across the global battery supply chain, with multiple discussions progressing with leading international battery manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and other downstream industry participants.

Australian-owned Firebird Metals Limited (“FRB”, “Firebird” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (“ARENA”) has formally approved the Company’s completion of Milestone 1 under the A$2,000,000 Battery Breakthrough Initiative (“BBI”) grant program, triggering a A$1,000,000 non-dilutive cash payment to Firebird.

All Milestone 1 deliverables have been completed ahead of schedule and within budget. ARENA’s formal sign-off confirms that all required deliverables have met strict compliance requirements of the Government agency, including site selection, full equipment procurement, and submission and acceptance of a Risk Management Plan for the ADP.

Firebird CEO, Mr Ron Mitchell, commented:

“Receiving this first milestone payment from ARENA is an important achievement for Firebird. Beyond providing non-dilutive funding, it represents continued confidence from the Australian Government in our technology, our execution capability, and our ability to deliver this strategically significant project on schedule and within budget.

“With all major equipment now ordered and our Australian Demonstration Plant site in Osborne Park secured, we are transitioning into the next phase of development as site preparation activities advance ahead of equipment delivery, assembly and commissioning in the coming months.

“The ADP is a critical step in Firebird's commercialisation strategy. It will provide an integrated demonstration-scale platform to validate our proprietary processing technologies, optimise manufacturing processes, produce customer qualification materials, and generate the operational data required to support future commercial-scale deployment. As the first advanced manganese battery materials facility of its kind outside China, the ADP is expected to play a key role in accelerating strategic partnerships and underpinning Firebird's broader global commercial growth strategy.”

Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP), Osborne Park, Perth

The ADP, designed to be the world’s first fully integrated manganese-to-cathode active material (CAM) processing facility outside China, is now entering the site readiness, equipment installation and commissioning phase. The facility is located at Osborne Park, Perth, Western Australia.

Key activities completed under Milestone 1 include:

•ADP site secured: The Company has secured the ADP premises in Osborne Park, Western Australia, with a fit-for-purpose office fit-out and site preparation activities now underway.

•All key equipment orders placed: As announced on 16 June 2026, all critical equipment orders for the ADP have been placed, representing a significant project milestone.

•Equipment compliance confirmed: The Company’s licensed Australian electrical contractor recently completed an in-country inspection in China, meeting with equipment vendors and confirming that all key equipment complies with applicable Australian electrical standards.

•Risk Management Plan accepted: With support from a leading Australian engineering firm, Firebird completed a formal Risk Management Plan for the ADP. This key ARENA deliverable was completed ahead of schedule and has been accepted by ARENA.

•Operational procedures finalised: All key operational procedures have been translated into English and finalised. The Company has also commenced discussions with a range of suitably qualified professionals interested in joining the first-of-its-kind ADP project.

About the ARENA Battery Breakthrough Initiative

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (“ARENA”) is an Australian Government agency established to accelerate pre-commercial innovation in support of the global transition to net zero emissions. The Battery Breakthrough Initiative (“BBI”) is a $500 million ARENA program forming a key part of Australia’s National Battery Strategy, aimed at supporting domestic battery manufacturing capability and supply chain resilience.

Firebird’s grant of up to A$2,000,000 is structured across three milestones. The grant is non-dilutive and does not grant ARENA any rights to Firebird’s current or future intellectual property. Project funding will be matched by Firebird’s existing funds at hand.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Firebird Metals Limited.

• [Editor:tianyawei]