Metal Energy to Begin Drill Program on Two Open Copper Zones at Highland Valley, Adjoining Canada's Largest Copper Mine
Metal begins drilling at Highland Valley Copper as NIV assay results approach.
Metal Energy Corp. (MERG) announced the start of its fall 2026 diamond drilling program at the 100%-owned Highland Valley Copper Project in British Columbia. The initiative is budgeted at $1.2 million and targets approximately 3,000 metres of drilling across two open copper zones, Zone 1 and Zone 2, alongside a 5 to 10 line-kilometre induced polarization (IP) survey. Drilling is scheduled to begin in early November 2026 and is expected to take approximately 30 days.
The expanded scope follows an August 12, 2026 release that initially outlined a 2,000-metre program for Highland Valley. The program has been increased to 3,000 metres with a corresponding budget increase to $1.2 million. Historical intercepts at Highland Valley include 95.0 metres at 0.75% CuEq in Zone 1 and 152.5 metres at 0.47% CuEq in Zone 2. Mineralization has been traced for over a kilometre of strike and to depths of 350 metres.
Separately, assay results from the company's inaugural drill program at the NIV copper-gold-molybdenum project are imminent, having been sent to the laboratory. The NIV project, located 32 km south of Centerra Gold's Kemess mine complex, is undergoing its maiden 6,000-metre drill program, with a second rig mobilized in September 2026 to accelerate testing.
Metal Energy Corp. (MERG) has announced a routine mobilization update for its Highland Valley program, a step previously outlined in the company’s August 2026 exploration calendar. The initiative carries a $1.2 million budget, which is fully covered by the company’s existing cash position and does not require additional capital raises or dilutive financings.
The exploration scope has been adjusted from 2,000 to 3,000 metres, a change reflecting normal field adjustments that does not materially alter the project's risk profile or timeline. While the company cited historical drill data from previous operators, this information has not been independently verified by the current Qualified Person, limiting immediate geological certainty. The announcement also noted that assays from the NIV program are imminent, providing a forward-looking catalyst without changing the immediate impact of the Highland Valley mobilization.
Metal Energy Corp. (MERG) is a pre-revenue exploration company focused on copper, gold, molybdenum, and battery metals in Canada. The company is currently in the exploration stage with no production or revenue. Management is led by CEO Charlie Greig, a veteran exploration geologist with a track record in porphyry discoveries.
The company’s flagship projects include the NIV Project, a 12,500-hectare copper-gold-molybdenum asset in the Toodoggone District, BC. Fully permitted and drill-ready, the project is currently undergoing its maiden 6,000-metre drill program, which targets a 5-kilometre geochemical and geophysical anomaly.
Also part of the portfolio is the Highland Valley Project, a 240-square-kilometre copper-molybdenum-silver-gold-rhenium asset adjoining Teck’s Highland Valley Copper mine, Canada’s largest copper operation. The fully permitted property features historical drilling totaling over 55,000 metres and is now entering its first recent drill program. Additionally, the company holds an 85% owned interest in the Manibridge Project, a nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE asset in Manitoba.