VANCOUVER, British Columbia — January 20, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Rio Silver Inc. (TSX-V: RYO | OTC: RYOOF) is initiating the regulatory process for physical access to its Maria Norte Project, engaging with Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) through its General Directorate of Mining (DGM), and the National Superintendency for the Control of Weapons and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC).
The company’s exploration and exploitation access agreements, along with permit advancements and coordination with the local community president, are the steps required to access surface mineralization, prepare portal access, and transition underground along mineralized structures.
At Maria Norte, high-grade silver mineralization has been visually confirmed at the surface, providing targets for initial access. Blasting and explosive permits are needed to safely break rock, access the exposed veins, and prepare portal entry for underground advancement.
The permitting process in Peru includes:
Mining activity authorization with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM)
Explosives use permit issued by SUCAMEC
Explosives purchase authorization issued by SUCAMEC
Under standard regulatory timelines, this permitting process typically takes several months. The Company anticipates receiving the required permits during Q2, subject to regulatory review.
Once permits are secured and access is established, exploration will focus on strike continuity and depth potential for long-term exploitation.
Chris Verrico, President and CEO of Rio Silver, said Maria Norte is a development opportunity where high-grade silver veins are exposed at surface, allowing for direct execution upon authorization. He added that Maria Norte is a silver-dominant system, pursuing permits to safely access visible mineralization and convert high-grade silver into mineable tonnes.
Verification sampling, conducted by James A. McCrea, P.Geo., during a June 2025 site visit to the Maria Norte Project, confirmed high-grade silver values, including:
869 g/t silver from a 0.5-metre surface vein channel sample
991 g/t silver from a 0.7-metre surface vein channel sample
396 g/t silver from a historic waste dump grab sample
A total of four verification samples were collected and analyzed by Certimin S.A. James A. McCrea, P.Geo. concluded that the sampling methods are adequate for data verification purposes.
Rio Silver will continue coordination with MEM and SUCAMEC to secure permit approvals, prepare for access to surface-exposed mineralization upon permit receipt, prepare portal access for underground entry, and continue metallurgical validation.
Jeffrey Reeder, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.
Rio Silver Inc. is focused on near-term development opportunities within proven mineral belts and is supported by a seasoned technical and operational team with experience in Peruvian geology, resource development, and district-scale exploration.
Chris Verrico is the Director, President and Chief Executive Officer and can be reached at (604) 762-4448 or via email at chris.verrico@riosilverinc.com
Source: Rio Silver Inc.
