Drill-ready “Lawson” target on 200-km-long Genesis Trend in southern Saskatchewan is data-rich and features all five critical elements for a Natural Hydrogen accumulation
Well licensing begins imminently followed by Q4 drilling
MAX Power’s Natural Hydrogen team is assessing at least 20 Lawson “look-a-likes” at Genesis
MAX Power releases Saskatchewan Natural Hydrogen documentary video – maxpowermining.com/NaturalHydrogen-NewEra
MAX Power Mining Corp. (“MAX Power” or the “Company”) announces that its geological team has delineated a robust "test of concept" drill target ("Lawson") in the heart of the 200-km-long Genesis Trend in southern Saskatchewan for the first-ever deep well in Canada specifically targeting Natural Hydrogen. Well licensing begins imminently, followed by the start of drilling in Q4.
Highlights
First mover, first well: Lawson is designed as Canada’s first deep well specifically targeting Natural Hydrogen, initiating a multi-well program across MAX Power’s ~1.3 million acres - the largest permitted Natural Hydrogen land package in the country with another 5.7 million acres under application.
Complete five-element system: At Lawson, integrated datasets indicate the five critical elements for a potential accumulation - source rocks, migration pathways, reservoirs, seals, and traps - are all present, in addition to 4-way closure;
“Salt Barrier” advantage: The target sits at the regional Prairie Evaporite margin - a large “Salt Barrier” that can be expected to serve as an effective trap and seal for Natural Hydrogen.
Data-driven targeting: Lawson has been refined with ~180 line-km of vintage and proprietary 2D seismic, regional aeromagnetics/gravity, subsurface mapping, and other data processed by MAX Power’s in-house Prospect Ranking Tool.
Sector tailwinds: Global strategics and majors are now backing Natural Hydrogen explorers, underscoring the near-term commercial relevance of the theme.
Mr. Steve Halabura, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.), Chief Geoscientist for MAX Power, commented: “Unlocking Lawson will de-risk at least 20 potential look-alikes along the Genesis Trend. The scale here is remarkable. Lawson checks the five boxes we look for in a Natural Hydrogen system, and it sits against an exceptional regional seal in the Prairie Evaporite. This is the right target to begin proving the Natural Hydrogen exploration thesis in Saskatchewan.”
Mr. Mansoor Jan, MAX Power CEO, added: “Lawson marks our shift from planning to execution. Beginning in Q4 2025, we will undertake a disciplined drilling program to validate what we believe is a very robust geological model. Our approach is clear: drill, test, and publish results that guide the next wells. The team is ready to begin. This is a pivotal moment for the company, and a unique opportunity for Saskatchewan and Canada.”
Lawson: Saskatchewan’s Test-of-Concept Natural Hydrogen Well
Location & scale: The Lawson target, located within an excellent road and infrastructure network that is present through the entire Genesis Trend, is part of a very large structure as demonstrated by the map below. Lawson lies centrally within Genesis, northwest of the Regina-Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor and proposed Hydrogen Hub.
Geologic rationale: Seismic interpretation highlights deep-rooted intrusive features and a large basement high with basal Cambrian “Deadwood” sands whose size and amplitude suggest porosity/permeability suitable for gas accumulation, overlain by evaporite and shale seals and proximal to the up dip regional “Salt Barrier” seal.
Data foundation: Targeting integrates trade + proprietary 2D seismic, legacy seismic compilations, regional aeromagnetics/gravity, subsurface mapping of key horizons, water well gas analyses, regional temperatures from legacy drill holes, regional helium and hydrogen gas analyses, and historic cores located at the Subsurface Laboratory in Regina. The Company's proprietary modeling system integrates large datasets and ranks exploration targets based on key criteria.
Why the Prairie Evaporite “Salt Barrier” Matters
Salt (halite/anhydrite) beds comprising the Prairie Evaporite Formation are extremely low-permeability, ductile, and self-healing, which are properties that make evaporites among the most effective seals in sedimentary basins. These thick, laterally continuous beds cap petroleum and gas reservoirs to the southeast and host engineered storage caverns precisely because they impede gas flow and maintain integrity over geologic time. Hydrogen’s lower solubility in brine than methane further reduces dissolution losses beneath such seals, even as its higher diffusivity is considered in test design.
The Genesis Trend has unusual scale potential for any resource project - it's a 200-km corridor up to 75 km wide defined by the flanking “Salt Barrier” and the intersection of exotic terrane mobile belts and basement structures interpreted to be favorable for hydrogen generation and migration. To date, some 40+ early prospects have been identified along Genesis with Lawson being the most data-rich.
From Discovery to Optionality
Natural Hydrogen offers a potential low-cost, low-carbon supply of a new primary energy source that could accelerate the broader hydrogen economy and provide quick and efficient optionality via modular generation. The Regina–Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor, contiguous to the Genesis Trend, provides multiple potential routes to market.
Multi-Well Program & Portfolio
Lawson is the first of multiple wells MAX Power intends to drill to evaluate several distinct Natural Hydrogen play types across its permitted ground (Genesis, Grasslands, Rider 1-3, Choiceland).
Next Steps, Near-Term Catalysts & Summary
Submission of well licence application for Lawson (imminent, approval expected within October).
Q4 spud of the Lawson well, followed by flow-testing as warranted.
Ongoing evaluation and ranking of additional Lawson-style closures and other play types across Genesis and district-scale ground, with additional updates in October
Strategic partnerships
MAX Power’s program is built to turn compelling geology into decision-grade evidence and to advance the commercialization of Natural Hydrogen in North America. The Lawson target is the first disciplined test of the full geologic system for Natural Hydrogen prospectivity in Saskatchewan, bringing source rocks, migration, reservoirs, seals and traps into one clear evaluation. Success at Lawson would inform a series of look-a-like targets along the Genesis Trend and establish a repeatable template for exploration and early power generation. Saskatchewan provides the right setting with proven resource infrastructure, supportive policy, and access to potential end users. Together these elements create a clear pathway from subsurface model to operational results.
RSUs Grant
The Company announces that it has granted one million (1,000,000) restricted stock units ("RSUs") to a consultant of the Company. The RSUs will vest in accordance with vesting terms to be determined by management and subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's restricted stock unit plan.