PPX Mining has secured environmental approval for a 10,315m diamond drilling programme at the Igor Project in Portachuelos, Peru.
The permit, known as the Environmental Technical Sheet for the Igor Exploration Project (Ficha Técnica Ambiental – FTA), was approved by Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines under Directorial Resolution No. 0648-2026-MINEM/DGAAM.
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The FTA allows for 58 drill-holes to be completed within a maximum period of 20 months.
This marks the first surface drill programme permit the company has received since the previous approval issued in 2014, which expired in October 2019.
PPX Mining is processing the required authorisation to commence activities and aims to start drilling by the end of September.
A tender process to select a drilling contractor has also started.
The company plans to deploy at least two drill rigs to progress the programme during the 2026 calendar year.
The forthcoming campaign at Portachuelos seeks to build on earlier exploration efforts.
Historical drilling including drill-hole CA-18-94, which was completed in 2018 on the Bx2 structure, previously identified 6m of sulphide mineralisation grading 5.77 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 443.8g/t silver and 0.67% copper.
This included a 1m interval grading 9.87g/t gold, 904g/t silver and 1.08% copper.
PPX Mining president and CEO Ernest Mast said: “Receiving environmental approval for the Portachuelos exploration programme is an important milestone for PPX and represents a significant step forward in unlocking the broader exploration potential of the Igor Project.
“Historical drilling at Portachuelos has returned compelling gold, silver and copper mineralisation including significant high-grade intervals, and we are excited to systematically follow up on these results.
“With more than 10,000m of drilling planned, this programme is designed to significantly improve our understanding of a mineralised system that is distinct from Callanquitas and could ultimately expand the scale and potential of the Igor Project.”
According to PPX Mining, the new drilling programme is expected to further characterise the geology, geometry and continuity of mineralisation at Portachuelos.
The area is distinct from the Callanquitas breccia system, where PPX Mining is currently conducting mining activities.
