Hot Chili Delivers New Assay Results from La Verde Drilling Programme

• Diamond drill hole DKD044 returned 391.1 metres grading 0.51% copper equivalent (CuEq) from surface at La Verde, including intervals of up to 0.70% CuEq
• The result indicates continuity of shallow, higher-grade copper-gold mineralisation relevant to a potential high-grade starter pit at the Costa Fuego project
• Assay results remain pending for 22 drill holes, including step-out hole DKD049, expected to provide further data on the extent of the high-grade core
• Hot Chili has engaged a second accredited laboratory to help reduce assay turnaround times, which have extended beyond 10 weeks in recent months
• Three drill rigs remain active at La Verde ahead of a planned maiden Mineral Resource estimate and updated Pre-feasibility Study for Costa Fuego

Hot Chili Limited (ASX:HCH) (TSXV:HCH) (OTCQX:HHLKF) is an Australia-based company focused on the Costa Fuego copper-gold project in Chile's coastal Atacama region. The La Verde discovery, a large-scale copper-gold deposit known as a porphyry system, is located approximately 30 kilometres south of the project's planned central processing hub. Hot Chili completed a Pre-feasibility Study for Costa Fuego in March 2025 and is now carrying out resource definition drilling at La Verde aimed at establishing a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.

DKD044 Confirms Strong Shallow High-Grade Copper-Gold Mineralisation at La Verde

Diamond drill hole DKD044 was collared on the western side of La Verde's high-grade core and designed to test the continuity of broad, high-grade mineralisation previously reported in hole DKD039, which returned 725 metres grading 0.42% CuEq from 18 metres depth, including 62 metres at 1.03% CuEq.

Assay results returned so far for DKD044 confirm an intersection of 391.1 metres grading 0.51% CuEq from surface. Within this interval, several higher-grade sections were recorded, including 17.8 metres at 0.68% CuEq from surface, 40.7 metres at 0.60% CuEq from 103.3 metres depth, 85.4 metres at 0.61% CuEq from 160 metres depth, and 19.7 metres at 0.70% CuEq from 276.1 metres depth. Copper equivalent grade combines the value of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum contained in the rock into a single figure, allowing for easier comparison between intervals. Assay results for the remainder of the hole, from 493.7 metres to the total depth of 711.4 metres, are still pending.

DKD044 is located approximately 150 metres west of step-out hole DKD049, which recorded a 180 metre zone of visually identified copper mineralisation from 536.7 metres depth. This drilling indicates potential for the high-grade core to widen between the two holes, subject to confirmation once assay results for DKD049 are returned in the coming weeks.

Continued Drilling Confirms Bulk Tonnage Continuity and Westward Extension of High-Grade Core

Additional assay results from holes DKD042 and DKP041 have confirmed and expanded near-surface, bulk tonnage mineralisation, referring to a large volume of lower-grade rock that can support a larger scale mining operation, as resource definition drilling continues at La Verde.

Diamond hole DKD042, collared on the western flank of the deposit, returned 96.4 metres grading 0.40% CuEq from 11.6 metres depth, confirming an extension of the high-grade core 125 metres further west, including 11.9 metres at 0.51% CuEq and 22.4 metres at 0.62% CuEq. Reverse circulation hole DKP041, an infill hole, returned 224 metres grading 0.40% CuEq from 92 metres depth, including 24 metres at 0.60% CuEq and 46 metres at 0.50% CuEq, confirming continuity of mineralisation across this part of the deposit.

Both results were obtained from the western portion of the La Verde deposit, an area targeted as part of Hot Chili's ongoing resource definition drilling ahead of a planned maiden Mineral Resource estimate for the project.

Engagement of Second Laboratory to Accelerate Pending Assay Turnaround

Since March, delivery of assay results has extended to more than 10 weeks in some cases. Hot Chili has engaged an additional ISO accredited laboratory, a facility certified to recognised international quality standards, in the region to help fast track outstanding results and reduce turnaround times.

Assay results remain pending for 22 drill holes in total, comprising six diamond holes and 16 reverse circulation holes. These include DKD049, DKP052, DKP053 and DKP054, which are expected to provide further data on extensions to La Verde's high-grade core.

Three drill rigs are currently operating at La Verde as part of the resource definition drilling programme, ahead of a planned maiden Mineral Resource estimate for La Verde and a revised Pre-feasibility Study for the Costa Fuego project.

Next Steps

Outstanding assay results for DKD044, DKD049 and the remaining pending drill holes are expected over the coming weeks. These results, together with the engagement of the second laboratory, will contribute to Hot Chili's planned maiden Mineral Resource estimate for La Verde and the revised Pre-feasibility Study for the Costa Fuego project.

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