TORONTO, July 08, 2026 — NorthWest Copper (“NorthWest” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NWST) has announced that drilling is now underway at its 100% owned Kwanika project in British Columbia. Three drill rigs have been mobilized to target expansions and upgrades of both underground and open pit mineral resources. The fully funded 2026 program is expected to reach up to 10,000 metres of drilling.
Program Highlights
- Three drill rigs now turning at the Kwanika project;
- Up to 10,000 metres of drilling fully funded through the Company’s recent $13.8 million financing;
- Program focused on upgrading and expanding underground resources in the Western Zone;
- Drilling to confirm, infill, and expand near-surface mineralization in the northern Pit Zone; and
- Program designed to support a future mineral resource estimate and optimization opportunities beyond the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”).
CEO Comments
Paul Olmsted, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: “We are thrilled to be back drilling at Kwanika in 2026 following the success of our 2025 exploration program. Our recent financing has fully funded up to a 10,000-metre drill campaign focused on increasing resource confidence both near surface and underground, while targeting opportunities to expand the open pit resource. We believe these initiatives will further strengthen our understanding of Kwanika’s copper-gold potential, and we look forward to reporting results as they become available, as well as identifying potential opportunities to unlock additional value.”
Drilling Objectives and Timeline
The 2026 drill program is designed to target both expansions to Kwanika’s resource base and increase confidence in existing copper-gold mineral resources while providing opportunities to improve upon the upcoming PEA, which is expected in the near term. Drilling is expected to continue through the end of July, with assay results anticipated later this summer. The Company is also evaluating opportunities to extend the program into the fall, including securing additional drill contractors. Any extension would focus on additional infill and expansion drilling in the northern Pit Zone to further define near-surface mineralization that remains open.
VP Exploration Perspective
Geoff Chinn, VP Business Development and Exploration stated, “We are extremely pleased to have three drills turning, particularly given the strong demand for, and challenges with securing drill contractors this year. We have a substantial inventory of planned drill holes and intend to complete as many as possible this field season. The 2026 drill program has been designed using the higher-grade geology model and recently completed Mineral Resource Estimate, both of which are supporting the upcoming PEA.”
