NorthWest Reports Results from Two Holes at Its Kwanika Property Highlighted by a Near Surface Intercept of 59.8 Metres of 0.70% Copper and 0.95 g/t Gold (1.57% CuEq) from 41 Metres

On December 17, 2025, NorthWest Copper reported assay results from two additional holes (K-25-265 and K-25-266) from its 2025 drill program at the Kwanika project in British Columbia. The highlight intercept was in hole K-25-266, which returned 59.8 metres of 0.70% copper and 0.95 g/t gold (1.57% CuEq) starting from a shallow depth of 41 metres. The release notes that these results are validating the company's targeting approach for higher-grade zones and are expected to support a higher-quality mineral resource estimate and a more robust development plan, improving on the 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The company also identified a new mineralized zone, Pit Zone 12, which remains open for expansion.

The news is Material - Positive. While the headline grade of 1.57% CuEq is not as spectacular as the standout 3.67% CuEq intercept reported on November 12, it represents another long, high-grade interval very close to the surface. This is precisely what the company's new strategy, implemented in early 2025, aims to find.

The significance of this release lies in its consistency and confirmation of the geological model. Each successive news release since drilling began in September 2025 has successfully demonstrated the continuity of higher-grade, near-surface mineralization. This steady stream of positive results directly de-risks the exploration thesis and builds a strong dataset for the upcoming mineral resource update and revised PEA.

Crucially, the results align perfectly with the stated goal of defining mineralization amenable to a more capital-efficient starter pit, a stark contrast to the large-scale block cave method envisioned in the 2023 PEA. The identification of a new zone (Pit Zone 12) also suggests further upside potential. This release is not a one-off surprise but another solid step in a well-executed exploration program that is delivering on its promises. For a junior explorer, consistent execution is a material positive event.

NorthWest Copper Corp. is a Canadian copper-gold exploration and development company focused on its portfolio of projects in British Columbia.

Its flagship asset is the Kwanika Project. Following management and board changes in late 2024 and early 2025, the company shifted its strategy. The previous 2023 PEA outlined a large-scale, high-capex block cave mine. The new strategy involves a phased development approach, initially focusing on defining higher-grade, near-surface zones within the existing Kwanika resource that could support a smaller, more capital-efficient starter pit and selective underground bulk mining methods. The 2025 exploration program is designed to validate this new model and provide the data for an updated PEA targeted for H1 2026.