East Star Resources — Copper Joint Ventures Update

(LSE:EST) East Star Resources reports significant progress at its Verkhuba and Rulikha copper joint ventures. At Verkhuba, 20 diamond drill holes have been completed, totaling more than 4,800 metres. Approximately 9.5 line-kilometres of electromagnetic (EM) surveying have also been conducted at Verkhuba. Metallurgical test work has commenced at the Verkhuba project. Contractors for engineering, environmental, and permitting work at Verkhuba are in the process of being finalised. Xinhai has completed Stage 1 funding of A$1.5 million for the Verkhuba joint venture. As a result of this funding, Xinhai has received an initial 15% joint venture interest in Verkhuba. East Star Resources remains fully carried to production at Verkhuba and will retain a 30% interest at the production stage. At the Rulikha joint venture, five drill holes have been completed, totaling 1,290 metres. Drilling at Rulikha is planned to reach approximately 3,000 metres in order to vest Nova with an initial 10% interest. A maiden resource for Rulikha is targeted by the second quarter of 2027. The update highlights ongoing exploration, funding milestones, and the advancement of both joint ventures toward resource definition and production.

Gold Exploration JV Update

(LSE: EST) East Star Resources Plc has provided an update on its gold exploration joint venture with Endeavour Exploration Limited, a subsidiary of Endeavour Mining plc (LSE: EDV, TSX: EDV). Under the strategic joint venture agreement announced on 13 November 2025, Endeavour has the right to earn a 51% interest in the JV by funding US$5 million of qualifying exploration expenditure during the Stage 1 earn-in period of two years, which commenced on 15 May 2026. Since the establishment of the JV, East Star and Endeavour have completed field visits and geological reconnaissance across 15 priority targets within the Areas of Interest in the north of Kazakhstan, totalling over 300,000km2. Several new exploration licence applications have been submitted, covering in excess of 930km2 and focused on Intrusion Related Gold systems within the northern Area of Interest. The JV's in-country technical and operational team now includes two senior geologists and four junior geologists. Work completed includes compilation and review of historical and modern geological and exploration datasets, collection of 1:50k geological, mineralogical and geophysical maps, and Soviet exploration reports with AI assisted translation and spatial searchability functions. A large-scale review of the geotectonic setting of mineral provinces within the Areas of Interest has commenced using a hybrid traditional and AI assisted system for prospectivity mapping. The JV will progress into more systematic field exploration, including geological mapping, soil and geochemical sampling once licence applications are granted. East Star also holds a joint venture with Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited to take the Verkhuba Deposit (20.3Mt @ 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc and 0.27% lead) into production at no further cost to East Star, retaining 30% ownership in production. Another joint venture with a Kazakh mining company aims to develop the Rulikha project (exploration target of 23Mt @ 2.4% copper equivalent) into production at no further cost to East Star, with East Star retaining between 25% and 35% ownership in production.

Snowy IP Survey Results

(LSE:EST) East Star Resources Plc announced the results of the induced polarisation (IP) survey from the Snowy Epithermal Target in Central Kazakhstan. The 2026 IP lines were completed over an intensely altered tuff unit with numerous quartz veinlets, revealing a distinct east-west striking chargeability trend associated with a volcanic unit targeted for an epithermal deposit. The anomaly is discrete, spanning approximately 1,700 m west to east starting from 100 m depth, and is open to the west and east. The anomaly has amplitudes ranging from 7 - 9 m V/V, which is plausible for low sulphidation epithermal targets. The Snowy IP Survey was conducted as a pole-dipole survey comprising four north-south lines, each approximately 1,100 m in length, at a frequency of 0.125 Hz. Initial lines used a mixed 50 m / 100 m dipole configuration, later corrected by infill acquisition using 50 m dipole spacing with 50 m transmitter moves. Measurements were recorded simultaneously on a 32-channel receiver. Smart Geophysics from Kazakhstan conducted the survey using a GDD Tx4 transmitter and GDD Rx-32 receiver, with quality control and interpretation by Mitre Geophysics Pty Ltd out of Australia. Mitre noted that the survey did not achieve the designed charge input and therefore the results may return lower than expected chargeability anomalies. East Star is also pursuing a joint venture with Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited to take the Verkhuba Deposit (20.3Mt @ 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc and 0.27% lead) into production at no further cost to East Star, with East Star retaining 30% ownership in production. A second VMS Exploration Target at the Rulikha Deposit has up to 23Mt @ 2.4% copper equivalent. East Star has a $25 million+ strategic gold exploration joint venture with Endeavour Mining. The company is advancing numerous other targets to drill-ready status and holds Tier 1 potential copper porphyry and epithermal gold targets in a proven copper porphyry and epithermal belt.

Verkhuba Joint Venture Update

(LSE: EST) East Star Resources Plc announced the establishment of Verkhuba Limited at the Astana International Financial Centre as the joint venture company for the Verkhuba Copper Deposit, with initial funding received and licence transfer underway. Xinhai has completed part of the first funding milestone under the Joint Venture Agreement, transferring A$500,000 to Verkhuba Limited, and its estimated investment is approximately US$65 million. East Star will be fully carried to production, at which point it will hold 30% of the producing mine, which currently has a JORC Inferred Resource of 20.3Mt @ 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc and 0.27% lead. Approximately 5,000 metres of drilling is planned to commence in June 2026 to support resource definition, mine planning, and feasibility studies. The company is also pursuing a $25 million+ strategic gold exploration joint venture with Endeavour Mining and a second VMS Exploration Target with up to 23Mt @ 2.4% copper equivalent. Discussions regarding land acquisition and long-term project infrastructure requirements have begun. The drilling programme is intended to support resource conversion, geological modelling, mine planning, and feasibility study activities.

Snowy Project: Exploration Update

East Star Resources Plc (LSE:EST), a Kazakhstan-focused gold and copper exploration and development company, has provided an update on exploration activities at its Snowy gold project. Recent mapping and rock chip sampling have identified a prospective vein system, with gold values in surface veins reaching up to 1.44g/t. The veins have been traced along strike for up to 200m, and all samples also carry anomalous silver, up to 2.86g/t. The company is now interpreting the mineralisation as a low-sulfidation epithermal system and has commenced an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey, with results expected in Q2 2026. East Star is also pursuing multiple exploration strategies in Kazakhstan, including joint ventures on copper and gold projects. The announcement highlights the project's potential to host a large gold system and outlines next steps involving geophysical surveys to refine drill targets.

New Interactive Investor Hub

East Star Resources Plc (LSE: EST), a Kazakhstan-focused gold and copper explorer, has launched a new interactive Investor Hub to enhance communication and engagement with shareholders and stakeholders. The platform consolidates regulatory announcements, reports, presentations, educational material, interviews, and corporate research into a single integrated portal. East Star is pursuing multiple exploration strategies in Kazakhstan, including a joint venture with Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited for the Verkhuba Deposit (20.3Mt @ 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc, 0.27% lead), a second VMS Exploration Target with up to 23Mt @ 2.4% copper equivalent, and a $25 million+ strategic gold exploration joint venture with Endeavour Mining. The company emphasizes its commitment to transparency, accountability, and fostering long-term relationships with shareholders.

Delay to Publication of Final Results

East Star Resources Plc (LSE: EST), a Kazakhstan-focused gold and copper explorer, announced a delay in the publication of its annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31 December 2025 ("FY25"). The delay, approximately one week, is due to a randomly applied audit by the Kazakhstan Tax Department on one of the Company's in-country subsidiaries. The Board confirmed the delay is procedural and does not reflect any issues with the Group's financial position or results. As a result, the Company's shares will be suspended for a short period from 7.30 a.m. today, pending publication of the FY25 audited accounts next week. The Company is involved in multiple exploration strategies, including a $25 million+ strategic gold exploration joint venture.