Metal Energy to drill two open copper zones at Highland Valley, British Columbia

Metal Energy Corp. [TSXV: MERG; OTCQB: MEEEF] reported that drilling will begin in early November at its 100%-owned Highland Valley Copper Project in southern British Columbia, adjoining Canada’s largest copper mine.

Highlights – Drilling starts November 7th: 3,000 metres of diamond drilling planned as part of a $1.2 million fall program, the first drilling on the project since 2020.

Two open copper zones: historical intercepts of 95.0 metres of 0.75% CuEq at Zone 1 and 105.5 metres of 0.59% CuEq at Zone 2, with mineralization traced for more than a kilometre of strike length.

Designed to grow the zones: holes will fill gaps in the historical drill pattern, test new orientations that may expand mineralization closer to surface, and confirm continuity.

A modern IP survey is planned to trace extensions of Zones 1 and 2 beyond the historical coverage

Next door to Canada’s largest copper mine: the 240 km² project adjoins the mine, with Zones 1 and 2 less than 7 km from its active open pits; road accessible, permitted and fully funded.

NIV assays imminent: Results from the company’s first-ever drill program at NIV are all at the lab and expected shortly.

The program will total at least 2,000 metres and will target Zones 1 and 2, two open zones of copper mineralization with strong historical intercepts. An induced polarization (IP) survey is also planned this fall to help outline extensions of both zones.

“Highland Valley gives us exactly what we want in a second project: two open copper zones with strong historical intercepts, right next door to Canada’s largest copper mine, with road access and a permit in hand. This initial program is about confirming what is there, filling gaps in the historical drilling and testing new drill angles that could open up mineralization closer to surface. What we learn from the core will guide our exploration of the broader property. That work ramps up in 2027, combining the till geochemistry we collected this season, modern IP surveys and the wealth of historical data to generate entirely new drill targets,” Charlie Greig, CEO of Metal Energy, commented.

Fall 2026 Program: The company has budgeted $1.2 million for its fall 2026 program at Highland Valley, covering approximately 3,000 metres of diamond drilling at Zones 1 and 2 and an IP survey. Drill targets were refined by the company’s technical team using ground AMT, airborne magnetic and soil geochemical surveys together with a compilation of historical drilling. The holes are designed to fill gaps in the historical drill pattern at Zones 1 and 2, test new drill orientations with the potential to expand mineralization near surface and confirm the continuity of the strongest historical intervals. Drilling is expected to take approximately 30 days.

The IP survey, of approximately 5 to 10 line-km, will partly overlap the historical IP coverage, giving the Company modern data over the known zones, and extend into ground that has never been surveyed.

Zones 1 and 2 – Strong Historical Intercepts, Open for Expansion: Zones 1 and 2 have been partially defined by approximately 28,000 metres of historical drilling. Copper mineralization has been traced for more than a kilometre of strike and to depths of up to 350 metres, and both zones remain open. Zone 2 also carries gold enrichment that sets it apart from typical mineralization in the district.

Selected historical highlights include 120.0 metres at 0.41% CuEq, 0.75 % CuEq and 0.51% CuEq, all in Zone 1. Zone 2 drill results included 126.0 metres at 65% CuEq, 152,5 metres at 0.47% CuEq and 105.5 metres at 0.59% CuEq.

The Highland Valley Copper Project: The 240 km² Project covers the southern part of the Guichon Creek batholith, the intrusive complex that hosts Canada’s largest copper mine. The property adjoins the mine’s southern boundary, and Zones 1 and 2 lie less than 7 km from its open pits.

The district continues to deliver: In the northern part of the batholith, Getty Copper recently reported a drill intercept of 342 metres of 0.50% copper, including 108 metres of 0.70% copper. More than 55,000 metres in 402 holes have been drilled across the project by operators including Asarco, Cominco and Hudbay, and the property hosts 24 known copper showings and prospects, many beneath

Assays from the company’s inaugural drill program at its NIV copper-gold-molybdenum project in British Columbia’s Toodoggone District are all at the laboratory and are expected shortly. As reported September 3, 2026, the company mobilized a second drill rig to accelerate testing of the 5 km strike length of the NIV system. The company will share results as soon as they are received and interpreted.

Metal Energy’s flagship asset, NIV, is a fully permitted copper-gold-molybdenum project located in British Columbia’s prolific Toodoggone District, a region known for both significant porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold-silver deposits.

Drilling at NIV began June 29, 2026, the first-ever drill campaign on what the company considers to be one of the most prospective undrilled copper-gold porphyry projects in British Columbia. The company’s Highland Valley Project, a second permitted asset adjoining Canada’s largest copper mine, begins drilling in early November 2026, giving investors additional discovery upside and further exposure to copper.

Metal Energy is supported by two major mining companies, each a 9.9% strategic investor and has a treasury of approximately $4.4 million, leaving it fully funded for its 2026 exploration programs.

Metal Energy’s portfolio includes three high-potential projects:

NIV Project (Cu-Au-Mo, 100% controlled), Toodoggone District, British Columbia, the Highland Valley Project (Cu-Mo-Ag-Au-Re, 100% owned), British Columbia and the Manibridge Project (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE, 85% owned), Manitoba.