Kutcho Copper Outlines Esso West - Highest Priority Near Resource Drill Target for 2026 Exploration Program
918 – 1030 West Georgia Street | Vancouver, British Columbia | Canada | V6E 2Y3 | Tel: (778) 357-1249 | www.kutcho.ca
Kutcho Copper Outlines Esso West - Highest Priority Near
Resource Drill Target for 2026 Exploration Program
Vancouver, B.C., April 30, 2026. Kutcho Copper Corp. (TSXV: KC) (OTC: KCCFF) (“Kutcho
Copper” or the “Company”) is pleased to highlight the highest priority near resource drill target at its
feasibility stage, high-grade copper-zinc development project (the “Project”) located in Northwest British
Columbia.
Vince Sorace, President & CEO of Kutcho Copper stated: “ Esso West is our most exciting and highest
priority drill target on the Kutcho Project. Delineated by new ZTEM and seismic surveys never conducted
over the target area in the past, Esso West is a highly prospective geophysical and geologically constrained
target area covering nearly 1 km2. The Esso West target on its own presents the potential for significant
scale and value addition to the Kutcho project.”
“The nearby Esso deposit contains an Indicated resource of 2.6 mt at 4.4% CuEqR, and an Inferred resource
of 2.1 mt at 2.15% CuEqR, representing approximately 50% of the value of the entire Kutcho project. The
Esso West target exhibits similar characteristics in mineralization and grade as the Esso deposit, and has
the potential to host multiple Esso style deposits. Our fully funded 2026 drill program planned to commence
in June will include up to 7 drill holes into the Esso West target.”
Highest Priority Untested VMS Target Within 5 km of Defined Resources
• The prospective, near planar, Kutcho Time Horizon extends for over 12 km along strike and along
with all known deposits at the Project, includes the Esso West target.
• Esso West is an untested ZTEM conductivity high near to the known mineralization.
• Seismic reflection surveys over the Esso West target revealed detailed subsurface geological
features that positviely correlate to those at the Esso Deposit – allowing for high conviction drill
targeting where conincident with ZTEM conductivity highs.
• The target is strongly supported by geology, magnetic, and seismic data that have been
benchmarked against the high-grade Esso deposit.
• The Esso West VMS target covers an area nearly 1 km2 – an area over 4 times larger than the Esso
Deposit.
Figure1: Plan view of the geologically contrained ZTEM conductivity high within the Kutcho Time Horizon that
encompasses the known resource lenses and new near resource targets.
Figure 2: Isometric view looking to the Southwest showing topography, the Kutcho Time Horizon with ZTEM
conductivity, known resources, historic and planned drilling.
Esso West – A Well-Defined Geophysical Target
Esso West is a high priority drill target covering an area of 1,900 m strike by 500 m down dip. It is defined
by coincident ZTEM, VTEM, and magnetic anomalies that lie along strike and to the west of the high-grade
Esso deposit.
The target is bracketed by a total of five historic drillholes that intercepted a combination of (a) moderately
to strongly sericite – pyrite altered quartz – crystal tuffs that correlate to the immediate hanging wall rocks
to the Main, Sumac, and Esso deposits and (b) sericite – pyrite altered lapilli tuffs, which are indicative of
the foot wall sequence below the three known deposits. However, none of these holes directly intersected
the Esso West target.
In 2023 a seismic reflection survey over the Esso West target (and comparison seismic lines over the Esso
deposit) was run to understand the subsurface geology in this area of low drilling density. It allowed for
3D modelling of the geological units and position of the Kutcho Time Horizon, this provides excellent
control on drill targeting.
The combination of the ZTEM conductivity high and geological indicators at the Esso West deposit,
including its position on a geological basement high and based on magnetic and seismic data the inferred
presence of a distinctive magnetic hanging wall gabbro dyke characteristic of Esso and Main deposit
geology make the Esso West a compelling target. The Company has high conviction about the potential
outcome of the planned drilling campaign
Figure 3: Isometric view looking northwest of Esso West target morphology, seismic sections and historic
drilling.
The 2026 Exploration Program
The Company is fully funded for its planned June 2026 drill program, in which it intends to drill test the
Hamburger, the Gap and the Esso West targets. The entire exploration program is planned for 9-11 holes
(approximately 4500 - 6000m of drilling). All drill holes will be accompanied by a down-hole EM survey
which will confirm EM strength and avail target direction refinement. The Company also plans to complete
soil sampling and prospecting on four early-stage targets during the summer of 2026.
Figure 4: Isometric view looking to the Southwest showing topography, the Kutcho Time Horizon with ZTEM
conductivity, known resources, historic and planned drilling.
Qualified Persons
The technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew
Sharp, P.Eng BC (Lic. No. 47907), FAusIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Kutcho Copper, who serves as
a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.
Notes
• Regional and Near Resource Exploration Targets are considered early-stage exploration targets which do
not contain any mineral resources as defined by NI 43-101. There has been insufficient exploration to define
a mineral resource for the targets disclosed. It is uncertain whether further exploration will result in these
targets being delineated as a mineral resource.
• ZTEM is an acronym referring to the Z -Axis Tipper Electromagnetic technique which is a geophysical
technique utilizing natural earth currents to image the subsurface three-dimensional distribution of apparent
resistivity to depths exceeding one kilometer.
• VTEM is an acronym referring the “Versatile Time- Domain Electromagnetic” technique and is useful for
detecting and discriminating between moderate to excellent conductors.
• Electrical Conductivity may indicate the presence of mineralization of economic interest, but also a range
of other possibilities, including electrically conductive mudstones , alteration and mineralization such as
pyrite.
• Historical Data: This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by Kutcho’s
qualified person (QP). Kutcho’s review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the
validity of the information presented in this news release; h owever, Kutcho cannot directly verify the
accuracy of the historical data, including (but not limited to) the procedures used for sample collection and
analysis. Therefore, any conclusions or interpretations borne from use of this data should be considered too
speculative to suggest that additional exploration will result in mineral resource delineation. Kutcho
encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results.
• Technical Disclosure: The material scientific and technical information in respect of the Kutcho Project in
this news release is, unless otherwise indicated, based upon information contained in the technical report
titled “NI 43 -101 Feasibility Study Technical Report for the K utcho Copper Project, British Columbia,
Canada” dated effective November 8, 2021 and issued December 22, 2021 (the “FS” or “2021 Feasibility
Study”). The 2021 Feasibility Study was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43- 101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian
Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and
technical information concerning m ineral projects. These standards differ from the mining property
disclosure rules specified in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the United States Securities Act of 1933
(“Subpart 1300”) promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits from the
2021 Feasibility Study set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies
that report in accordance with U.S. standards.
About Kutcho Copper
Kutcho Copper Corp. is a Canadian resource development company focused on expanding and developing
the Kutcho high grade copper-zinc project in northern British Columbia. Committed to social responsibility
and the highest environmental standards, the Company recently completed a feasibility study on the Kutcho
project and is advancing permitting with the objective of getting to a positive construction decision.
Vince Sorace
President & CEO, Kutcho Copper Corp.
For further information regarding Kutcho Copper Corp. , please email [email protected] or visit our website
at www.kutcho.ca. Tel: (778) 357-1249
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” with respect to the
Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward -looking statements are statements that are not
historical facts and are gene rally, but not always, identified by the words “advance”, “de -risk”, “execute”,
“incorporate”, “accretive”, “plans”, “compelling”, “believes”, “intends”, “potential” , “value opportunities”,
“upside”, variations of these words and similar expressions, or th at events or conditions “will”, “may”, “could” ,
“should” or “would” occur. Although Kutcho Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward -looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are
subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward -
looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to , statements and information
related to the Feasibility Study; the funding, timing and results of planned exploration programs; the ability of the
Company to upgrade inferred mineral resources to higher categories and, subsequently, to mineral reserves; the
outcome of potential optimizations and opportunities identifi ed in the Feasibility Study and subsequently; the
Company’s ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, to
maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, t o explore and develop the Kutcho project and for
general working capital purposes; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards
associates with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of copper and other metals , changes in
general economic conditions, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the ability of the Company to obtain
the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the Kutcho project and if obtained, to obtain
such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company’s plans and business objectives for the projects,
including the environmental assessment process ; the ability of the Company to conclude agreements with First
Nations; the general ability of the Company t o monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and
other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company’s operations, compliance with environmental
laws and regulations, aboriginal title claims and rights to consultation and a ccommodation, dependence on key
management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the
reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except
as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward- looking statements in the event
that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.