Announcement PDF 23 September 2026 FIRST MANGANESE FEEDSTOCK PREPARED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DEMONSTRATION PLANT Representative sample dispatched for October technical program ahead of ADP commissioning Highlights • First manganese feedstock successfully prepared for Firebird’s Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP) using ore sourced from the Company’s 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project in Western Australia. • The Oakover Manganese Project is underpinned by an 18-year mine life and compelling project economics, including a NPV of A$741 million and an IRR of 73%1 . • The prepared feedstock will support the first demonstration-scale testwork at the ADP, representing an important step in validating Firebird’s integrated pathway from manganese ore to high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials. • A representative subsample has been airfreighted to Firebird’s pilot plant and R&D facility in Hunan, China, where it will be incorporated into an October 2026 technical program involving the Company’s Australian Technical Lead, Dr Chris Passmore. • The Hunan program will focus on process demonstration, technical knowledge transfer and the transfer of operational expertise to support the successful commissioning and operation of the ADP in Australia. • Assembly, installation and commissioning of the ADP remain on schedule for Q4 CY2026, with the first container of plant equipment expected to arrive at Fremantle Port in early October and initial sample production targeted for Q1 CY2027. Australian-owned Firebird Metals Limited (“FRB”, “Firebird” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that manganese ore sourced from its 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project in Western Australia has been successfully prepared for use in the Company’s Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP), providing the first feedstock for demonstration-scale testwork at the Osborne Park facility. The Oakover ore was crushed, wet-milled, screened, dried and homogenised to achieve the required particle-size distribution and produce a consistent feedstock for demonstration- scale processing. 1 See ASX announcement dated 30 August 2023. The Company confirms that the material assumptions underpinning the forecast financial information continue to apply and have not materially changed. 23 September 2026 Figure 1. Milled Oakover manganese ore prepared as first feedstock for the ADP. The prepared Oakover ore will provide the first feedstock for demonstration-scale testwork at the ADP, representing an important step in demonstrating Firebird’s integrated pathway from its 100%-owned Oakover manganese resource through to high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials. Figure 2. Preparation of Oakover ore feedstock. 23 September 2026 A representative subsample of the prepared ore was also air freighted to Firebird’s pilot plant and R&D facility in Hunan, China, where it will be used as part of an October technical program involving the Company’s Australian Technical Lead, Dr Chris Passmore. The program will focus on process demonstration, technical knowledge transfer and the transfer of operating expertise to support commissioning and operation of the ADP. Preparation of first feedstock follows the recent departure from China of the first container of ADP equipment, which is expected to arrive at Fremantle Port in early October, with final site readiness activities at Osborne Park nearing completion. Assembly, installation and commissioning of the ADP remain on track for Q4 CY2026, followed by first production of samples in Q1 CY2027. Firebird CEO, Mr Ron Mitchell, commented: “Preparing the first feedstock for the ADP from Firebird’s 100%-owned Oakover Manganese Project represents an important milestone in the execution of our integrated strategy. Manganese ore sourced from the Pilbara will be processed through our proprietary flowsheet, demonstrating a clear pathway from Australian ore to high-purity manganese chemicals and advanced battery materials. “With the first shipment of ADP equipment now in transit and site-readiness activities at Osborne Park nearing completion, the technical program commencing in Hunan during October is well timed. Dr Passmore will work alongside our China-based engineering team to support process demonstration and the transfer of technical knowledge to Australia, positioning Firebird to commence assembly and commissioning of the ADP during the fourth quarter of 2026.” The Company will provide further updates as demonstration-scale testwork commences, ADP equipment arrives at site and commissioning activities advance. This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Firebird Metals Limited. For further information contact: Ron Mitchell CEO E: ron.mitchell@firebirdmetals.com.au Ph: +61 407 726 325 – END – 23 September 2026 About Firebird Metals Limited (ASX:FRB) Firebird is an Australian battery materials technology company developing advanced manganese-based lithium-ion battery materials for the EV and energy-storage markets. Its proprietary, patented and exclusively licensed technology enables the direct processing of manganese concentrate to cathode active materials (CAM) within a single integrated process line, pairing a high-efficiency kiln and advanced crystallisation with downstream processing know-how to target lower cost and energy use. The Company’s immediate focus is delivery of its Australian Demonstration Plant (ADP) in Perth, supported by a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative. The ADP, Australia’s first demonstration-scale facility processing manganese concentrate into high-purity manganese sulphate (HPMS) and downstream battery materials, including CAM, is advancing rapidly. It builds on Firebird’s operating pilot facility, which has demonstrated the full flowsheet from manganese ore to high-performance CAM, and will validate the process under Australian conditions while delivering HPMSM, precursor-CAM and CAM samples for application in lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and lithium manganese rich (LMR) next-generation batteries. Firebird also holds 234 Mt of manganese resources in Western Australia, led by the Oakover Manganese Project (176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn, including Indicated 105.8 Mt at 10.1% Mn2 ) and Hill 616 (57.5 Mt at 12.2% Mn3 ). The Oakover Manganese Project is underpinned by an 18-year mine life and compelling project economics, including a NPV of A$741 million and an IRR of 73%4 . The Company has the flexibility to source manganese ore through third‑party suppliers and stockpiles, with mining optionality retained within its broader portfolio. JORC Compliance Statement This announcement contains references to Mineral Resource Estimates, which have been reported in compliance with Listing Rule 5.8 and extracted from previous ASX announcements as referenced. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information previously reported and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimates continue to apply and have not materially changed. 2 See ASX announcement dated 23 March 2023: Indicated Resource of 105.8Mt at 10.1%; Inferred Resource of 70.9Mt at 9.6% for global Resource of 176.7 Mt at 9.9% Mn. 3 See ASX announcement dated 1 December 2021: Inferred Resource of 57.5 Mt at 12.2% Mn 3 See ASX announcement dated 30 August 2023