MAX Power Mining Corp. (CSE: MAXX; OTC: MAXXF; FSE: 89N) has announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Douglas Capital Inc. (DCI), an agreement the company says brings major North American energy infrastructure development expertise to its emerging Natural Hydrogen commercialization strategy.

The collaboration covers transmission projects, operating industrial power plants, and hydrogen-fired generation engineering.

Proposed Hydrogen Corridor Targets AI Data Center Power

Under the MOU, the two parties will evaluate opportunities to connect MAX Power's Saskatchewan Natural Hydrogen Discovery with Canadian-built AI data centers, industrial power generation, and potential electricity markets through a proposed interprovincial energy corridor.

The announcement comes as MAX Power advances technical evaluation of its Lawson Natural Hydrogen discovery and as Saskatchewan positions itself for substantial investment in AI infrastructure.

Partnership Explores Canadian Energy Supply for Data Centers

The partnership arrives amid growing demand for reliable electricity and increasing pressure on new data center developments to secure dedicated power supplies.

According to the company, the collaboration provides a framework for evaluating how a potential new Canadian energy source could be connected to emerging domestic and broader North American electricity markets.

Leadership Behind Douglas Capital

DCI is led by John Douglas, founder of Transmission Developers Inc., the developer behind the USD 5.7 billion, 1,250 MW Champlain Hudson Power Express. That project entered commercial operation in June 2026, delivering Québec hydroelectricity to New York City.

Together with Dr. Denis Steyn, a former Siemens power transmission lines and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) executive, Mr. Douglas also co-founded Public Energy Inc., which operates power generation facilities serving industrial customers in Ontario, including Magna International.

Douglas Brings Extensive Energy Infrastructure Experience

Mr. Douglas, CPA, CA, CBV, has more than 30 years of investment banking and energy infrastructure experience. He founded Transmission Developers Inc. in 2008, served as its CEO through 2010, and remained a director until 2022. TDI originated and developed the Champlain Hudson Power Express, which was built under Blackstone ownership following its acquisition of TDI.

The approximately 550-kilometre underground and underwater transmission project provides a major new connection between Québec's hydroelectric supply and New York City's electricity market.

Mr. Douglas also founded Lake Erie Power Corp., developer of the proposed 1,000 MW Lake Erie Connector between Ontario and Pennsylvania, and Ventus Energy Inc., which developed a portfolio of wind projects before its acquisition by GDF Suez in 2007. Earlier in his career, he served as Head of Investment Banking at Sprott Securities.

Engineering Expertise Supports Natural Hydrogen Power Plans

Dr. Steyn, P.Eng., PhD, brings more than 25 years of high-voltage engineering and energy management experience, including leadership of Siemens' power transmission lines business in Germany and HVDC business development in Canada.

He is also CEO of Verdyn Inc., a Canadian power electronics company developing technologies for industrial power quality, energy storage, and high-density data center loads.

Through Public Energy, Mr. Douglas and Dr. Steyn have developed, financed, built, and operated natural gas-fired generation facilities supplying Ontario industrial customers under long-term agreements.

Their hydrogen-focused company, Current H2 Inc., has completed front-end engineering and design for a proposed 25 MW reference plant in Owen Sound, Ontario.

The planned facility aims to utilize hydrogen generated through on-site electrolysis; its engineering expertise is pertinent for assessing hydrogen-fired power generation, and the collaboration with MAX Power will explore the potential of naturally occurring hydrogen as a fuel source.

Natural Hydrogen to AI Data Centers

The MOU outlines several core areas of collaboration. The first targets a connected network of next-generation data centers of varying capacities across Saskatchewan, intended to be entirely Canadian-built and powered by electricity generated from MAX Power's Natural Hydrogen. This initiative remains subject to technical and commercial validation.

The second focus is a broader route to market. The parties will explore potential electricity supply opportunities through DCI's proposed CANVergence Energy Way, an Alberta-to-Ontario energy corridor intended to be 100 percent First Nations-controlled and to include a 2,000 MW multi-terminal HVDC transmission system.

The collaboration also combines complementary capabilities: MAX Power's exploration and subsurface expertise alongside DCI's experience in project development, permitting, financing, transmission, distributed generation, and prospective customer engagement.

Defined Next Steps Within 30 Days

The parties intend to agree on a joint feasibility work plan, budget, and timetable within 30 days of the MOU's effective date.

That work plan will address hydrogen supply requirements, generation infrastructure, data center sizing, potential customers, and definitive commercial arrangements.

Company Perspective on Commercial Pathways

Mr. Chad Levesque, MAX Power President, commented on the significance of the agreement: "Natural Hydrogen has the potential to become an entirely new primary energy source, the first since uranium, but realizing that opportunity requires more than a discovery. It requires the infrastructure, expertise and commercial relationships to bring that energy to market. John Douglas and his team have been involved in developing some of North America's most significant energy projects."

He added, "Bringing that experience together with what we are advancing at Lawson represents an important step in building the commercial pathways for Natural Hydrogen in Canada."

Mr. John Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Capital, commented, "The opportunity is to connect a potential new Canadian energy source with infrastructure designed around the needs of its customers. Our team brings experience across generations, transmission, and project finance."

He added, “We see a compelling reason to evaluate how that experience could support MAX Power’s Natural Hydrogen opportunity. The work ahead is to match the characteristics of the hydrogen supply with the right power systems, project scale, and commercial arrangements.”

Context: Lawson Discovery and Saskatchewan's AI Ambitions

The MOU with DCI comes as MAX Power continues technical evaluation of its Lawson Natural Hydrogen discovery in Saskatchewan. The province is positioning itself for substantial investment in AI infrastructure, and the company notes that data center developers face increasing pressure to secure dedicated power supplies.

The collaboration framework is intended to evaluate how Natural Hydrogen, if validated technically and commercially, could serve as the energy source for Canadian-built data centers and connect to wider electricity markets through the proposed corridor.

The company describes the Lawson discovery and commercialization strategy as a growing priority, with the DCI partnership representing what it characterizes as an important step in building the commercial pathways for Natural Hydrogen in Canada.

Further details on the joint feasibility work plan are expected to be defined within the 30-day window following the MOU's effective date.

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