RESTON, Va., June 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation ("Lightbridge" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, today participated in the White House launch of the Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort ("UPRISE"), a federal initiative to expand U.S. nuclear capacity by maximizing output from the existing reactor fleet. The Company was represented by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Seth Grae at the event held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex in Washington, D.C.

^{Image 1: Lightbridge Chairman & CEO Seth Grae at the UPRISE launch at the White House (June 17, 2026)}

UPRISE, launched by the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE"), targets the addition of approximately 5 GW of nuclear capacity and advances the President's May 2025 executive orders, which direct DOE to facilitate 5 GW of power uprates at existing reactors. The initiative brings together nuclear utilities, energy off-takers, and other stakeholders to support the expansion of output from the nation's operating reactor fleet.

Lightbridge Fuel is being designed to deliver among the largest power uprates available to the operating pressurized water reactor ("PWR") fleet, positioning the technology to directly contribute to UPRISE's objectives. The Company continues to advance Lightbridge Fuel through testing and qualification toward commercial deployment.

"UPRISE recognizes a straightforward reality: the fastest and most cost-effective megawatts we can add to the grid are the ones we draw from reactors already operating today," said Seth Grae, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lightbridge. "Lightbridge Fuel is being designed to deliver the greatest power uprates available to the existing pressurized water reactor fleet, and we were proud to take part in the launch of an initiative aimed squarely at that opportunity."

"We are grateful to the Administration and the Department of Energy for convening this event," Mr. Grae added. "We are advancing our fuel toward delivering additional clean, secure power."

About Lightbridge Corporation

Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ:LTBR) is focused on developing advanced nuclear fuel technology essential to delivering abundant, zero-emission, clean energy and providing energy security to the world. The Company is developing Lightbridge Fuel™, a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for existing light-water and pressurized heavy-water reactors, significantly enhancing reactor safety, economics, and proliferation resistance. The Company is also developing Lightbridge Fuel for new small modular reactors to deliver the same benefits, plus load-following with renewables, on a zero-carbon electric grid.

Lightbridge has entered into two long-term framework agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, the United States Department of Energy's operating contractor for Idaho National Laboratory, the United States' lead nuclear energy research and development laboratory. DOE's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear program has twice awarded Lightbridge to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel over the past several years. An extensive worldwide patent portfolio backs Lightbridge's innovative fuel technology. Lightbridge is included in the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes. For more information, please visit www.ltbridge.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly from such estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: Lightbridge's ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology, including risks related to the design and testing of nuclear fuel incorporating its technology and the degree of market adoption of Lightbridge's product and service offerings; dependence on strategic partners; any adverse changes to Lightbridge's agreements or relationship with the U.S. government and its national laboratories; Lightbridge's ability to fund its future operations, including general corporate overhead and outside research and development expenses, and continue as a going concern; the future market and demand for Lightbridge's fuel for nuclear reactors and its ability to attract customers; Lightbridge's ability to manage the business effectively in a rapidly evolving market; Lightbridge's ability to employ and retain qualified employees and consultants that have experience in the nuclear industry; competition and competitive factors in the markets in which Lightbridge competes, including from accident-tolerant fuels; access to and availability of nuclear test reactors and the risks associated with unexpected changes in Lightbridge's nuclear fuel development timeline; access to and availability of adequate resources and manufacturing capabilities at national laboratories that affect our nuclear fuel development timeline and project costs; Lightbridge's ability to deploy and operate a dedicated nuclear fuel fabrication facility; the increased costs associated with metallization of Lightbridge's nuclear fuel; uncertainties related to conducting business in foreign countries; public perception of nuclear energy generally; changes inlaws, rules, and regulations governing Lightbridge's business; changes in the political environment; development and utilization of, and challenges to, Lightbridge's intellectual property domestically and abroad; the volatility of the trading price of Lightbridge's securities and the potential for purchasers of its securities to incur substantial losses; and other factors described in Lightbridge's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Lightbridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Lightbridge's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and in its other filings with the SEC, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements," all of which are available at http://www.sec.gov/ and www.ltbridge.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Matthew Abenante, IRC

Director of Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (347) 947-2093

ir@ltbridge.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79202cac-a909-4b6a-9e30-ab90e1545e57

Lightbridge Participates in Launch of UPRISE Nuclear Power Uprate Event at the White House