Lithium Africa Appoints James Chabata as Chief Financial Officer

Cape Town, South Africa – August 4, 2026 – Lithium Africa Corp. has announced the appointment of James Chabata as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2026. The appointment is subject to regulatory approvals.

Chabata succeeds Jamie Robinson, who will step down as CFO. Robinson has served as the company's CFO since June 2022 and played an integral role in its go-public transaction and listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in February 2026. He will remain with the company until the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

"James has built finance functions in the locations where we operate – through construction and into production at the Goulamina lithium mine in Mali, and for a Canadian-listed developer in Côte d’Ivoire," said Thomas R. Benson, CEO of Lithium Africa. "He knows OHADA, IFRS, and joint venture accounting, and brings on-the-ground cost control expertise."

Chabata brings over 15 years of finance leadership experience in the African mining sector, with operational experience in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa. He joins from Montage Gold Corp., where he built the finance function for the Koné Project in Côte d’Ivoire. Previously, as Finance and Administration Manager at Leo Lithium Limited, he helped deliver the Goulamina Lithium Project in Mali through construction and into operational readiness.

Lithium Africa is a capital-efficient lithium exploration and consolidation company assembling a portfolio of hard-rock lithium assets across Africa. Through its 50/50 joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium Group, the company holds indirect interests in lithium projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Mali. Additionally, the company is acquiring a majority interest in the Springbok Project in South Africa.