Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2026) - Kutcho Copper Corp. (TSXV: KC) (OTCQX: KCCFF) ("Kutcho Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to highlight the highest priority near resource drill target at its feasibility stage, high-grade copper-zinc development project (the "Project") located in Northwest British Columbia.

Vince Sorace, President & CEO of Kutcho Copper, stated: "Esso West is our most exciting and highest priority drill target on the Kutcho Project. Delineated by new ZTEM and seismic surveys never conducted over the target area in the past, Esso West is a highly prospective geophysical and geologically constrained target area covering nearly 1 km². The Esso West target on its own presents the potential for significant scale and value addition to the Kutcho project."

"The nearby Esso deposit contains an Indicated resource of 2.6 mt at 4.4% CuEqR, and an Inferred resource of 2.1 mt at 2.15% CuEqR, representing approximately 50% of the value of the entire Kutcho project. The Esso West target exhibits similar characteristics in mineralization and grade as the Esso deposit, and has the potential to host multiple Esso style deposits. Our fully funded 2026 drill program planned to commence in June will include up to 7 drill holes into the Esso West target."

Highest Priority Untested VMS Target Within 5 km of Defined Resources

• The prospective, near planar, Kutcho Time Horizon extends for over 12 km along strike and along with all known deposits at the Project, includes the Esso West target.
• Esso West is an untested ZTEM conductivity high near to the known mineralization.
• Seismic reflection surveys over the Esso West target revealed detailed subsurface geological features that positviely correlate to those at the Esso Deposit - allowing for high conviction drill targeting where conincident with ZTEM conductivity highs.
• The target is strongly supported by geology, magnetic, and seismic data that have been benchmarked against the high-grade Esso deposit.
• The Esso West VMS target covers an area nearly 1 km² - an area over 4 times larger than the Esso Deposit.

Figure 1: Plan view of the geologically contrained ZTEM conductivity high within the Kutcho Time Horizon that encompasses the known resource lenses and new near resource targets.

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Figure 2: Isometric view looking to the Southwest showing topography, the Kutcho Time Horizon with ZTEM conductivity, known resources, historic and planned drilling.

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Esso West - A Well-Defined Geophysical Target

Esso West is a high priority drill target covering an area of 1,900 m strike by 500 m down dip. It is defined by coincident ZTEM, VTEM, and magnetic anomalies that lie along strike and to the west of the high-grade Esso deposit.

The target is bracketed by a total of five historic drillholes that intercepted a combination of (a) moderately to strongly sericite - pyrite altered quartz - crystal tuffs that correlate to the immediate hanging wall rocks to the Main, Sumac, and Esso deposits and (b) sericite - pyrite altered lapilli tuffs, which are indicative of the foot wall sequence below the three known deposits. However, none of these holes directly intersected the Esso West target.

In 2023 a seismic reflection survey over the Esso West target (and comparison seismic lines over the Esso deposit) was run to understand the subsurface geology in this area of low drilling density. It allowed for 3D modelling of the geological units and position of the Kutcho Time Horizon, this provides excellent control on drill targeting.

The combination of the ZTEM conductivity high and geological indicators at the Esso West deposit, including its position on a geological basement high and based on magnetic and seismic data the inferred presence of a distinctive magnetic hanging wall gabbro dyke characteristic of Esso and Main deposit geology make the Esso West a compelling target. The Company has high conviction about the potential outcome of the planned drilling campaign.

Figure 3: Isometric view looking northwest of Esso West target morphology, seismic sections and historic drilling.

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The 2026 Exploration Program

The Company is fully funded for its planned June 2026 drill program, in which it intends to drill test the Hamburger, the Gap and the Esso West targets. The entire exploration program is planned for 9-11 holes (approximately 4500 - 6000m of drilling). All drill holes will be accompanied by a down-hole EM survey which will confirm EM strength and avail target direction refinement. The Company also plans to complete soil sampling and prospecting on four early-stage targets during the summer of 2026.

Figure 4: Isometric view looking to the Southwest showing topography, the Kutcho Time Horizon with ZTEM conductivity, known resources, historic and planned drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3735/295104_099b61c354080bce_005full.jpg

Qualified Persons

The technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Sharp, P.Eng BC (Lic. No. 47907), FAusIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Kutcho Copper, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

Notes

• Regional and Near Resource Exploration Targets are considered early-stage exploration targets which do not contain any mineral resources as defined by NI 43-101. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource for the targets disclosed. It is uncertain whether further exploration will result in these targets being delineated as a mineral resource.
• ZTEM is an acronym referring to the Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic technique which is a geophysical technique utilizing natural earth currents to image the subsurface three-dimensional distribution of apparent resistivity to depths exceeding one kilometer.
• VTEM is an acronym referring the "Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic" technique and is useful for detecting and discriminating between moderate to excellent conductors.
• Electrical Conductivity may indicate the presence of mineralization of economic interest, but also a range of other possibilities, including electrically conductive mudstones, alteration and mineralization such as pyrite.
• Historical Data: This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by Kutcho's qualified person (QP). Kutcho's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, Kutcho cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including (but not limited to) the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. Therefore, any conclusions or interpretations borne from use of this data should be considered too speculative to suggest that additional exploration will result in mineral resource delineation. Kutcho encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results.
• Technical Disclosure: The material scientific and technical information in respect of the Kutcho Project in this news release is, unless otherwise indicated, based upon information contained in the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Feasibility Study Technical Report for the Kutcho Copper Project, British Columbia, Canada" dated effective November 8, 2021 and issued December 22, 2021 (the "FS" or "2021 Feasibility Study"). The 2021 Feasibility Study was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ from the mining property disclosure rules specified in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the United States Securities Act of 1933 ("Subpart 1300") promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits from the 2021 Feasibility Study set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

About Kutcho Copper

Kutcho Copper Corp. is a Canadian resource development company focused on expanding and developing the Kutcho high grade copper-zinc project in northern British Columbia. Committed to social responsibility and the highest environmental standards, the Company recently completed a feasibility study on the Kutcho project and is advancing permitting with the objective of getting to a positive construction decision.

Vince Sorace
President & CEO, Kutcho Copper Corp.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "advance", "de-risk", "execute", "incorporate", "accretive", "plans", "compelling", "believes", "intends", "potential", "value opportunities", "upside", variations of these words and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "may", "could", "should" or "would" occur. Although Kutcho Copper believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, statements and information related to the Feasibility Study; the funding, timing and results of planned exploration programs; the ability of the Company to upgrade inferred mineral resources to higher categories and, subsequently, to mineral reserves; the outcome of potential optimizations and opportunities identified in the Feasibility Study and subsequently; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop the Kutcho project and for general working capital purposes; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of copper and other metals, changes in general economic conditions, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the Kutcho project and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects, including the environmental assessment process; the ability of the Company to conclude agreements with First Nations; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, aboriginal title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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