{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"113594","rtpr_id":"nNFC2z9609","ticker":"HDRO","exchange":"","all_tickers":["HDRO"],"title":"Primary Hydrogen Announces Fully Funded and Permitted 2026 Exploration and Maiden Drill Program at Wicheeda North","author":"Newsfile Corp","published_at":"2026-08-10T10:00:15.286Z","article_body":"Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2026) - Primary Hydrogen Corp.\n(TSXV: HDRO) (FSE: 83W) (OTCQB: HNATF) (the \"Company\" or \"Primary\") is pleased\nto announce it has prepared a fully funded and permitted 2026 work program at\nthe Wicheeda North rare earth element project in British Columbia (the\n\"Property\" or \"Wicheeda North\"). The program will culminate in the first\ndrilling to be undertaken in the Property's history. Soil geochemical sampling\nand an airborne radiometric survey will be completed in advance of the drill\nprogram, with approximately 1,500 metres of drilling targeted for completion\nin the fall of 2026.\n\nHighlights of Proposed Work Program\n* First drilling on the property — approximately 1,500 metres, targeted for\ncompletion in the fall of 2026\n* Five-year permit for up to 70 drill sites — authorizing the 2026 program\nand successive programs through 2030 without a further Notice of Work\napplication\n* No additional financing required — funded from the Company's previous\nCritical Mineral flow-through financing, as announced in the Company's June\n23, 2026 and July 8, 2026 news release, in respect of this ground and the\nproceeds of which are still held in treasury\n* Two untested targets — the 2025 program identifies two high-priority REE\nanomaly clusters on the property, neither of which has been tested by drilling\n* Sequenced to narrow targets in advance of drilling — soil geochemistry and\nan airborne radiometric survey precede the selection of drill collars\n\"Wicheeda North is permitted and funded, so the question this year was one of\nsequencing,\" said David Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Primary Hydrogen.\n\"We are sampling and flying the airborne survey ahead of the rig, so that the\nholes are placed on the best information available to us. I would rather spend\na few weeks refining targets than mobilize early and guess. The permit runs\nfive years and covers seventy drill sites, which allows us to plan well beyond\na single season.\"\n\n2026 Work Program\n\nThe program has been sequenced so that each stage progressively narrows the\ntarget set for the stage that follows, with soil geochemistry and airborne\nradiometrics completed in advance of drilling and drill targets selected only\nupon integration of the combined results.\n*\nSoil geochemical sampling. Infill sampling is intended to tighten sample\nspacing within the Company's existing soil grids in order to better define the\nextent and tenor of the anomalies identified during the 2025 field season.\nExtensional sampling will attempt to extend coverage beyond the current grid\nlimits, in order to establish whether those anomalies are closed or remain\nopen.\n*\nAirborne radiometric survey. Gamma-ray spectrometric surveys measure the\npotassium, uranium and thorium channels. Rare earth-bearing carbonatites\ncommonly carry elevated thorium, which makes the thorium response a recognized\nvectoring tool for targets of this style. As the Company has previously\ninterpreted the property as carrying a greater depth of overburden than the\nneighbouring deposit, the survey is intended to narrow the target set rather\nthan to define drill collars in isolation.\n*\nDrilling. A maiden drill program of approximately 1,500 metres is planned and\ntargeted for completion in the fall of 2026. Drill targets are to be selected\nupon completion of the surface programs described above, integrated with\nregional LiDAR coverage, historical geophysical data and the results of the\nCompany's 2025 survey. A request for proposals has been issued to drilling\ncontractors.\n\nThe Wicheeda North Project\n\nWicheeda North comprises nine contiguous mineral claims totalling 2,138\nhectares (21.1 square kilometres) in the northern Cariboo Mining Division of\nBritish Columbia. The property lies within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a\nstructural corridor known to host carbonatite intrusions associated with rare\nearth element mineralization. The Company holds an option to acquire a 75%\ninterest in the Property, and no drilling has been undertaken on the Property\nto date.\n\nIn November 2025 the Company reported the results of an airborne geophysical\nsurvey and a soil geochemical sampling program completed during the 2025 field\nseason. That work identified two high-priority REE anomaly clusters — Grid\nA-South, in the northeastern portion of the property, and Grid D-South, in the\neastern portion — representing the highest rare earth values recorded in the\nproperty-wide soil dataset. Neither of these clusters has been tested by\ndrilling. The Company further reported that background rare earth levels\nacross Wicheeda North are lower than those observed at the neighbouring\nWicheeda deposit, which it interpreted as indicative of a greater depth of\noverburden.\n\nThe property lies approximately 5 kilometres northwest of the Wicheeda rare\nearth deposit held by Defense Metals Corp. In February 2026 the Province of\nBritish Columbia's Critical Minerals Office selected the project covering the\nWicheeda deposit for support under its Advanced Project Initiative, being the\nonly rare earth project among the three selected (Defense Metals Corp.\nFebruary 23, 2026 press release). Federal funding has since been conditionally\napproved in respect of a 60-kilometre transmission line to serve that project\n(Defense Metals Corp. March 4, 2026 press release). The Company has no\ninterest in the Wicheeda deposit. Mineral deposits and exploration results on\nneighbouring properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on\nthe Company's Property, and no mineral resource has been estimated on Wicheeda\nNorth.\n\nThe Company holds a Mines Act permit in respect of Wicheeda North, issued on a\nmulti-year area-based basis for a five-year term expiring in 2031, authorizing\nsurface drilling at up to 70 sites together with trenching and 8 kilometres of\nexploration access. The 2026 program and successive programs through 2030 may\naccordingly proceed without a further Notice of Work application.\n\nQualified Person\n\nThe scientific and technical information contained in this news release has\nbeen reviewed and approved by Christopher Michael Longton, AIPG CPG #11958, VP\nExploration of the Company, a \"qualified person\" within the meaning of\nNational Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As\nan officer of the Company, Mr. Longton is not independent of the Company for\nthe purposes of National Instrument 43-101.\n\nAbout Primary Hydrogen Corp.\n\nPrimary Hydrogen is dedicated to the exploration and development of natural\nhydrogen resources. With projects in the U.S. and across Canada, the Company's\nportfolio includes the Blakelock, Hopkins, Mary's Harbour, Point Rosie,\nCrooked Amphibolite, Coquihalla and Cogburn projects. Primary has an option to\nacquire a 75% interest in a hydrogen-REE project known as Wicheeda North\nlocated in British Columbia.\n\n——\n\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:\n\nDave Jackson\nChief Executive Officer\nPrimary Hydrogen Corp.\nEmail: dave@primaryh2.com\n\nCAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION\n\nThis news release contains \"forward-looking information\" and \"forward-looking\nstatements\" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.\nForward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: (i)\nthe scope, methodology, sequencing and timing of the Company's 2026 work\nprogram at Wicheeda North, including the planned soil geochemical sampling,\nairborne radiometric survey and maiden drill program; (ii) the anticipated\nextent of and completion of the drill program in the fall of 2026; (iii) the\nCompany's expectation that completion of the program will satisfy the\nremaining exploration expenditure requirements under the Wicheeda North option\nagreement; (iv) the sufficiency of the Company's existing funds to complete\nthe program without additional financing; (v) the utility of the planned\nradiometric survey in narrowing drill targets; (vi) the reporting of results\nand the selection of drill targets; and (vii) the Company's ability to conduct\nsuccessive programs under the existing permit.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that, while\nconsidered reasonable by the Company at the date of this news release, are\ninherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive\nuncertainties and contingencies. Such assumptions include, without limitation:\nthat the 2026 program is completed substantially as planned and within the\nperiod required under the option agreement; that expenditures incurred on the\nprogram qualify as exploration expenditures under that agreement; that the\nCompany retains the financial resources, contractors, equipment and land\naccess required to complete the program; that drilling contractors and\nequipment will be available when required; that field and weather conditions\nwill permit the planned work; and that the Company remains in compliance with\nthe conditions of its Mines Act permit.\n\nForward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and are\nnot guarantees of future performance. Such risks include, but are not limited\nto: that the work program may be delayed, reduced in scope, or not completed\nas planned; that a drilling contractor may not be secured on acceptable terms\nor within the anticipated timeframe; that expenditures incurred may not\nqualify under the option agreement, or may not be recognized in the amounts\nanticipated; that the Company may not satisfy the expenditure requirements\nwithin the time required, and that the option may not vest; that the planned\nradiometric survey may not produce a usable response, including as a result of\noverburden depth, vegetation or ground conditions; that sampling and drilling\nmay not identify mineralization warranting further expenditure; the\nearly-stage nature of the property, on which no mineral resource has been\nestimated and no drilling has been undertaken; that exploration results on\nneighbouring properties are not indicative of the Company's property; and the\nCompany's ability to obtain any financing required for work beyond the program\ndescribed. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking\ninformation. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking\nstatements except as required by law.\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/308757","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nNFC2z9609","title":"Primary Hydrogen Announces Fully Funded and Permitted 2026 Exploration and Maiden Drill Program at Wicheeda North","author":"Newsfile Corp","ticker":"HDRO","created":"2026-08-10T10:00:15.286Z","tickers":["HDRO"],"exchange":"","article_body":"Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2026) - Primary Hydrogen Corp.\n(TSXV: HDRO) (FSE: 83W) (OTCQB: HNATF) (the \"Company\" or \"Primary\") is pleased\nto announce it has prepared a fully funded and permitted 2026 work program at\nthe Wicheeda North rare earth element project in British Columbia (the\n\"Property\" or \"Wicheeda North\"). The program will culminate in the first\ndrilling to be undertaken in the Property's history. Soil geochemical sampling\nand an airborne radiometric survey will be completed in advance of the drill\nprogram, with approximately 1,500 metres of drilling targeted for completion\nin the fall of 2026.\n\nHighlights of Proposed Work Program\n* First drilling on the property — approximately 1,500 metres, targeted for\ncompletion in the fall of 2026\n* Five-year permit for up to 70 drill sites — authorizing the 2026 program\nand successive programs through 2030 without a further Notice of Work\napplication\n* No additional financing required — funded from the Company's previous\nCritical Mineral flow-through financing, as announced in the Company's June\n23, 2026 and July 8, 2026 news release, in respect of this ground and the\nproceeds of which are still held in treasury\n* Two untested targets — the 2025 program identifies two high-priority REE\nanomaly clusters on the property, neither of which has been tested by drilling\n* Sequenced to narrow targets in advance of drilling — soil geochemistry and\nan airborne radiometric survey precede the selection of drill collars\n\"Wicheeda North is permitted and funded, so the question this year was one of\nsequencing,\" said David Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Primary Hydrogen.\n\"We are sampling and flying the airborne survey ahead of the rig, so that the\nholes are placed on the best information available to us. I would rather spend\na few weeks refining targets than mobilize early and guess. The permit runs\nfive years and covers seventy drill sites, which allows us to plan well beyond\na single season.\"\n\n2026 Work Program\n\nThe program has been sequenced so that each stage progressively narrows the\ntarget set for the stage that follows, with soil geochemistry and airborne\nradiometrics completed in advance of drilling and drill targets selected only\nupon integration of the combined results.\n*\nSoil geochemical sampling. Infill sampling is intended to tighten sample\nspacing within the Company's existing soil grids in order to better define the\nextent and tenor of the anomalies identified during the 2025 field season.\nExtensional sampling will attempt to extend coverage beyond the current grid\nlimits, in order to establish whether those anomalies are closed or remain\nopen.\n*\nAirborne radiometric survey. Gamma-ray spectrometric surveys measure the\npotassium, uranium and thorium channels. Rare earth-bearing carbonatites\ncommonly carry elevated thorium, which makes the thorium response a recognized\nvectoring tool for targets of this style. As the Company has previously\ninterpreted the property as carrying a greater depth of overburden than the\nneighbouring deposit, the survey is intended to narrow the target set rather\nthan to define drill collars in isolation.\n*\nDrilling. A maiden drill program of approximately 1,500 metres is planned and\ntargeted for completion in the fall of 2026. Drill targets are to be selected\nupon completion of the surface programs described above, integrated with\nregional LiDAR coverage, historical geophysical data and the results of the\nCompany's 2025 survey. A request for proposals has been issued to drilling\ncontractors.\n\nThe Wicheeda North Project\n\nWicheeda North comprises nine contiguous mineral claims totalling 2,138\nhectares (21.1 square kilometres) in the northern Cariboo Mining Division of\nBritish Columbia. The property lies within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a\nstructural corridor known to host carbonatite intrusions associated with rare\nearth element mineralization. The Company holds an option to acquire a 75%\ninterest in the Property, and no drilling has been undertaken on the Property\nto date.\n\nIn November 2025 the Company reported the results of an airborne geophysical\nsurvey and a soil geochemical sampling program completed during the 2025 field\nseason. That work identified two high-priority REE anomaly clusters — Grid\nA-South, in the northeastern portion of the property, and Grid D-South, in the\neastern portion — representing the highest rare earth values recorded in the\nproperty-wide soil dataset. Neither of these clusters has been tested by\ndrilling. The Company further reported that background rare earth levels\nacross Wicheeda North are lower than those observed at the neighbouring\nWicheeda deposit, which it interpreted as indicative of a greater depth of\noverburden.\n\nThe property lies approximately 5 kilometres northwest of the Wicheeda rare\nearth deposit held by Defense Metals Corp. In February 2026 the Province of\nBritish Columbia's Critical Minerals Office selected the project covering the\nWicheeda deposit for support under its Advanced Project Initiative, being the\nonly rare earth project among the three selected (Defense Metals Corp.\nFebruary 23, 2026 press release). Federal funding has since been conditionally\napproved in respect of a 60-kilometre transmission line to serve that project\n(Defense Metals Corp. March 4, 2026 press release). The Company has no\ninterest in the Wicheeda deposit. Mineral deposits and exploration results on\nneighbouring properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on\nthe Company's Property, and no mineral resource has been estimated on Wicheeda\nNorth.\n\nThe Company holds a Mines Act permit in respect of Wicheeda North, issued on a\nmulti-year area-based basis for a five-year term expiring in 2031, authorizing\nsurface drilling at up to 70 sites together with trenching and 8 kilometres of\nexploration access. The 2026 program and successive programs through 2030 may\naccordingly proceed without a further Notice of Work application.\n\nQualified Person\n\nThe scientific and technical information contained in this news release has\nbeen reviewed and approved by Christopher Michael Longton, AIPG CPG #11958, VP\nExploration of the Company, a \"qualified person\" within the meaning of\nNational Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. As\nan officer of the Company, Mr. Longton is not independent of the Company for\nthe purposes of National Instrument 43-101.\n\nAbout Primary Hydrogen Corp.\n\nPrimary Hydrogen is dedicated to the exploration and development of natural\nhydrogen resources. With projects in the U.S. and across Canada, the Company's\nportfolio includes the Blakelock, Hopkins, Mary's Harbour, Point Rosie,\nCrooked Amphibolite, Coquihalla and Cogburn projects. Primary has an option to\nacquire a 75% interest in a hydrogen-REE project known as Wicheeda North\nlocated in British Columbia.\n\n——\n\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:\n\nDave Jackson\nChief Executive Officer\nPrimary Hydrogen Corp.\nEmail: dave@primaryh2.com\n\nCAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION\n\nThis news release contains \"forward-looking information\" and \"forward-looking\nstatements\" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.\nForward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: (i)\nthe scope, methodology, sequencing and timing of the Company's 2026 work\nprogram at Wicheeda North, including the planned soil geochemical sampling,\nairborne radiometric survey and maiden drill program; (ii) the anticipated\nextent of and completion of the drill program in the fall of 2026; (iii) the\nCompany's expectation that completion of the program will satisfy the\nremaining exploration expenditure requirements under the Wicheeda North option\nagreement; (iv) the sufficiency of the Company's existing funds to complete\nthe program without additional financing; (v) the utility of the planned\nradiometric survey in narrowing drill targets; (vi) the reporting of results\nand the selection of drill targets; and (vii) the Company's ability to conduct\nsuccessive programs under the existing permit.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that, while\nconsidered reasonable by the Company at the date of this news release, are\ninherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive\nuncertainties and contingencies. Such assumptions include, without limitation:\nthat the 2026 program is completed substantially as planned and within the\nperiod required under the option agreement; that expenditures incurred on the\nprogram qualify as exploration expenditures under that agreement; that the\nCompany retains the financial resources, contractors, equipment and land\naccess required to complete the program; that drilling contractors and\nequipment will be available when required; that field and weather conditions\nwill permit the planned work; and that the Company remains in compliance with\nthe conditions of its Mines Act permit.\n\nForward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and are\nnot guarantees of future performance. Such risks include, but are not limited\nto: that the work program may be delayed, reduced in scope, or not completed\nas planned; that a drilling contractor may not be secured on acceptable terms\nor within the anticipated timeframe; that expenditures incurred may not\nqualify under the option agreement, or may not be recognized in the amounts\nanticipated; that the Company may not satisfy the expenditure requirements\nwithin the time required, and that the option may not vest; that the planned\nradiometric survey may not produce a usable response, including as a result of\noverburden depth, vegetation or ground conditions; that sampling and drilling\nmay not identify mineralization warranting further expenditure; the\nearly-stage nature of the property, on which no mineral resource has been\nestimated and no drilling has been undertaken; that exploration results on\nneighbouring properties are not indicative of the Company's property; and the\nCompany's ability to obtain any financing required for work beyond the program\ndescribed. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking\ninformation. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking\nstatements except as required by law.\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/308757"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-08-10T10:00:15.356806397Z","server_sent_at_ms":1786356015356},"received_at":"2026-08-10T10:00:15.408Z","source_url":"https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/308757"},"analysis":{"id":"102597","press_release_id":"113594","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels","sector":"Energy"},"redFlags":["No mineral resource has been estimated on Wicheeda North to date","Exploration results on neighboring properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's Property"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"Primary Hydrogen announced a fully funded and permitted 2026 work program at its Wicheeda North rare earth element project, featuring a maiden drill program of approximately 1,500 meters targeted for the fall.\n\nThe program is supported by a five-year Mines Act permit authorizing up to 70 drill sites through 2030, with funding secured from previous Critical Mineral flow-through financing proceeds.\n\nField work will begin with soil geochemical sampling and an airborne radiometric survey to refine two high-priority REE anomaly targets before drilling commences.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Funded maiden drill program and multi-year permit de-risk Wicheeda North exploration."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"drill_sites":70,"property_sq_km":21.1,"drilling_metres":1500,"permit_term_years":5,"property_hectares":2138,"option_interest_percent":75}},"quotedText":"Wicheeda North is permitted and funded, so the question this year was one of sequencing,","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"David Jackson","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Christopher Michael Longton","role":"VP Exploration"}],"products":["Wicheeda North","Blakelock","Hopkins","Mary's Harbour","Point Rosie","Crooked Amphibolite","Coquihalla","Cogburn"],"companies":[{"name":"Primary Hydrogen Corp.","ticker":"HDRO"},{"name":"Defense Metals Corp.","relationship":"neighbor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"Maiden drill program represents a significant operational de-risking milestone for an early-stage explorer, bolstered by the lack of dilution (fully funded) and regulatory clarity (5-year permit)."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"HDRO"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":20,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"exploration_update"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"Primary Hydrogen announced a fully funded and permitted 2026 work program at its Wicheeda North rare earth element project, featuring a maiden drill program of approximately 1,500 meters targeted for the fall.\n\nThe program is supported by a five-year Mines Act permit authorizing up to 70 drill sites through 2030, with funding secured from previous Critical Mineral flow-through financing proceeds.\n\nField work will begin with soil geochemical sampling and an airborne radiometric survey to refine two high-priority REE anomaly targets before drilling commences.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"drill_sites":70,"property_sq_km":21.1,"drilling_metres":1500,"permit_term_years":5,"property_hectares":2138,"option_interest_percent":75}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"David Jackson","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Christopher Michael Longton","role":"VP Exploration"}],"products":["Wicheeda North","Blakelock","Hopkins","Mary's Harbour","Point Rosie","Crooked Amphibolite","Coquihalla","Cogburn"],"companies":[{"name":"Primary Hydrogen Corp.","ticker":"HDRO"},{"name":"Defense Metals Corp.","relationship":"neighbor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-08-10T10:10:21.172Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":20,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"exploration_update"}},"durationMs":178470,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}