Monumental Energy Announces Accepted Bid for the Tirua Point Application Area in New Zealand

Monumental to Hold 60% Majority Stake

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 18, 2026--Monumental Energy Corp. ("*Monumental" or the "Company") (TSXV: MNRG; FSE: ZA6; OTCQB: MNMRF) is pleased to announce that its application for petroleum exploration permit PEP61554, covering the Tirua Point application area in New Zealand's Taranaki Basin, has been accepted by New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals ("NZPA") and will now proceed to government review.

The application was submitted in May 2026 by Monumental, private company 3TCF and New Zealand Energy Corp. (TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC"), the proposed operator. The three-month competing-application period closed on August 12, 2026, with no competing applications received.

Upon the permit being granted and definitive agreements completed, Monumental expects to hold a 60% interest, with 3TCF holding 30% and NZEC holding the remaining 10%.

Tirua Point Application Area

The Tirua Point application covers approximately 245 square kilometres of prospective onshore and offshore acreage in the northern Taranaki Basin. Technical work completed by the applicant group has identified two gas-condensate prospects: Mauku Northeast and Mangatoa.

Mauku Northeast is an Eocene-age Mangahewa Group prospect situated updip from the Mauku-1 well drilled in 2013, which intersected approximately 140 metres of net reservoir.

Mangatoa is a deeper prospect targeting the mid-Cretaceous Taniwha Formation. The offshore Te Ranga-1 well, drilled in 1986, intersected approximately 100 metres of the Taniwha Formation between measured depths of 3,740 and 3,842 metres below the Kelly bushing. Subsequent petrophysical reviews of available wireline and well data have interpreted indications of movable hydrocarbons within sandstone intervals in the formation.

The accepted application will now undergo government review. There can be no assurance that NZPAM will grant the permit within the anticipated timeframe or at all. If the permit is granted, Monumental, 3TCF and NZEC intend to finalize and enter into definitive joint-venture and operating agreements.

Maximilian Sali, CEO, Director and Founder of Monumental, commented:

"The acceptance of our application is an important step toward securing the Tirua Point permit. Tirua Point would expand our presence in the Taranaki Basin and add two identified gas-condensate prospects to our New Zealand portfolio. Monumental and its partners have spent a significant number of hours to get this application lodged with the government regulatory agency, New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZPAM). I believe this forward thinking and right timing will lead to a re-rating of our share price. This is just the first of many catalysts to come between now and the rest of the year."