Coppernico Metals Inc. has received approval for its Environmental Impact Assessment – Semi-detailed permit in Peru, expanding the approved drill area at the Sombrero Project from 904 hectares to approximately 3,122 hectares.

The final approved permit exceeds the company's initial November 2025 application, which proposed expanding the footprint to 3,024 hectares. The Category II instrument maintains 181 authorized drill platforms while increasing authorized drill holes from the originally proposed 48 to 300, a substantial increase from the 49 holes permitted under the initial DIA permit.

The expanded footprint extends north and west of the original boundary, incorporating the Ccascabamba target area and priority zones including Fierrazo, Corrales, Chumpi, Escondida, Huachana, and Tipicancha. Fierrazo stands as the priority target for the upcoming drilling phase, supported by historical drilling from Aceros Arequipa that returned intervals such as 116 metres grading 0.42% copper and 0.24 grams per tonne gold.

Drilling across the expanded area remains contingent on receiving start-of-activities authorization from the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines and finalizing funding and arrangements with a drill contractor. The company plans to commence its expanded multi-target drill program across 2026 and 2027, starting with the Fierrazo target, while advancing site preparations and community engagements.

“The approval of our expanded environmental permit is an important milestone for the Sombrero Project and reflects years of disciplined technical work, constructive engagement with our host communities, and a shared commitment to responsible development. While our initial DIA permit provided an important foundation, it was limited in scope. This expanded EIA-Sd permit covers our most advanced and highest-priority exploration targets, including Fierrazo.

This permit will give us the flexibility to systematically test key areas of what we believe is one of the most compelling district-scale copper-gold opportunities in the Americas, amid rising copper and gold prices. Equally important, this milestone reinforces the collaborative relationships we have built with local communities, creating the potential for meaningful employment, long-term investment, and shared economic benefits as we responsibly advance the project.

We would like to thank our team in Peru, our local communities, stakeholders, and the government authorities for their continued and active engagement throughout the permitting process. We are excited to complete the final steps required to begin drilling in the coming months and to start unlocking the exceptional discovery potential of Sombrero for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

— Ivan Bebek, Chair and CEO

Read the full announcement: Coppernico Receives Approval for Major Drill Permit Expansion at Sombrero