Copper Giant Bets Big on Colombian Deposit to Fuel Green Energy Boom

VANCOUVER, BC – February 17, 2026 – Copper Giant Resources Corp. has unveiled its most ambitious exploration program to date, launching a massive 23,000-metre drilling campaign at its Mocoa copper-molybdenum project in southern Colombia. The fully funded 2026 plan, the largest in the project's history, is designed to aggressively advance what is already considered one of the largest undeveloped copper resources in the Americas, moving it closer to an initial economic evaluation later this year.

The move signals a significant acceleration in the company's efforts to define and de-risk the giant mineral system. Mocoa currently holds an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.12 billion tonnes, containing an estimated 7.7 billion pounds of copper and 1.0 billion pounds of molybdenum. This places it in a rare class of globally significant deposits, a fact not lost on the company's leadership as they position the project as a future cornerstone of the global energy transition.

"Mocoa has now firmly passed the billion-tonne Inferred Resource Estimate threshold, establishing it as one of the very few independent, near-surface copper-molybdenum systems of true global scale," said Ian Harris, President & CEO of Copper Giant, in a statement. "Our 2026 program is designed to turn that exceptional scale into the project-level confidence we need as we advance toward a PEA later this year."

The Scale of Ambition: Proving a World-Class Asset

The 2026 exploration program is a multi-pronged strategy aimed at systematically increasing the geological confidence in the Mocoa deposit. With two drill rigs already operating at full capacity and a third planned to join shortly, the company intends to tackle three primary objectives.

First, a major focus will be on expanding the known mineral resource footprint. Mineralization at Mocoa has been traced from the surface to depths exceeding 1,000 metres and remains open for expansion in multiple directions. Step-out drilling will test the unconstrained edges of the porphyry system, seeking to grow the overall size and metal endowment of the deposit. Particular emphasis will be placed on extending three recognized high-grade zones that are seen as key value drivers for any future mining scenario.

Second, the program will test new regional targets, including prospects named La Estrella and Piedralisa. Geochemical and geophysical surveys suggest these areas could host additional porphyry centers, highlighting the potential for Mocoa to be a district-scale mineralized system with satellite deposits that could enhance its long-term value and development flexibility.

Finally, a critical component of the campaign is strategic in-fill drilling designed to convert a substantial portion of the resource from the 'Inferred' to the 'Indicated' category. The company is targeting a 30-50% conversion, a crucial step in de-risking the project. Indicated resources have a higher degree of geological confidence, allowing them to be used in the more detailed mine planning and economic analysis required for a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

"The 2026 campaign is the most integrated drilling program ever at Mocoa," noted Edwin Naranjo Sierra, the company's Vice-President of Exploration. "Our focus is clear: expand the deposit footprint, potentially convert 30–50% of Inferred resources to Indicated... and drill-test priority targets."

A Critical Metal for a Changing World

Copper Giant's aggressive push at Mocoa is timed to coincide with a widely anticipated structural deficit in the global copper market. Copper is an indispensable metal for the green energy transition, essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and the vast grid upgrades required to support a decarbonized economy. Market analysts from leading financial institutions forecast a significant supply gap emerging by the end of the decade as new mine production struggles to keep pace with soaring demand.

This tightening market dynamic makes the development of large-scale, long-life assets like Mocoa strategically critical. If proven economically viable, the project could become a significant new source of copper supply, helping to meet the needs of global electrification. The presence of molybdenum, a key ingredient in high-strength steel alloys used in energy infrastructure, adds further strategic value to the deposit.

Mr. Harris emphasized this context, stating, "With multiple catalysts ahead in a copper market that is clearly tightening, we look forward to showing what Mocoa can deliver as a meaningful development asset for the energy transition and beyond."

The Colombian Context: Promise and Peril

While the geological potential of Mocoa is immense, its location in Colombia's Putumayo department presents a complex operating environment. The region has a history of social conflict, and securing a 'social license to operate' from local communities and government bodies is paramount for any major resource project in the country.

The Mocoa project itself has faced challenges in the past, including a 2017 court order that temporarily suspended activities over environmental concerns, a decision that was later successfully appealed. This history underscores the critical importance of robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

Copper Giant appears keenly aware of these challenges, emphasizing its commitment to a "Good Neighbor philosophy" and responsible development. The 2026 program includes several key 'de-risking' initiatives that go beyond drilling. These include expanded environmental baseline monitoring to strengthen data for future permitting, as well as early-stage geotechnical and hydrogeological studies to support future mine design and water management plans. The company is also conducting advanced metallurgical testing to optimize processing and ensure concentrate quality.

Successfully navigating the intricate regulatory landscape and building durable, trust-based relationships with local stakeholders will be as crucial to Mocoa's success as the geological results from the drill bit. The company's ability to demonstrate tangible benefits for the region while upholding high environmental standards will be under close scrutiny as the project advances.

From Discovery to Development: The Road Ahead

The ultimate goal of the 2026 program is to gather the technical data necessary to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment. A PEA represents a major de-risking milestone, providing the first comprehensive public look at a project's potential economic viability, including preliminary estimates of capital and operating costs, production rates, and profitability.

A positive PEA would serve as a catalyst for Mocoa, validating the significant investment to date and paving the way for more advanced and costly pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. It is the formal step that begins to transform a massive mineral discovery into a tangible development project.

By combining aggressive resource expansion with methodical de-risking studies, Copper Giant is systematically working to unlock the value of its flagship asset. The coming year will be pivotal, as the steady flow of drill results will determine whether the Mocoa deposit can live up to its promise as a globally significant source of the metals needed to power a sustainable future.