Western Copper in New JV with Apex Silver

The two companies have committed minimal funds to explore an area inthe northern part of the silver district in Zacatecas State. Western Holdings owns 100% of the Penasquito project in Zacatecas State and is presently drilling on that property.

Western Copper forms JV with Apex on Zacatecas claims

         Western Copper Holdings Shares issued 27,278,045
         Apr 25 close $1.25
         Fri 26 Apr 2002
         News Release
         Mr. Dale Corman reports
         WESTERN ANNOUNCES ZACATECAS JOINT VENTURE WITH APEX SILVER
         Western Copper Holdings Limited has signed a letter of agreement with Apex Silver Mines Limited relating to a staged exploration program
         for massive sulphide deposits on claims owned by both parties in the northern part of
Western Copper forms JV with Apex on Zacatecas claims

         Western Copper Holdings Shares issued 27,278,045
         Apr 25 close $1.25
         Fri 26 Apr 2002
         News Release
         Mr. Dale Corman reports

WESTERN ANNOUNCES ZACATECAS JOINT VENTURE WITH APEX SILVER

Western Copper Holdings Limited has signed a letter of agreement with Apex Silver Mines Limited relating to a staged exploration program for massive sulphide deposits on claims owned by both parties in the northern part ofthe Zacatecas silver district. The agreement consolidates claims held by Western (1,462 hectares) and Apex (approximately 4,800 hectares) in an area that has not been systematically evaluated for sediment-hosted or volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Western will be the project operator.An initial jointly financed one-year $200,000 (U.S.) exploration program will be completed in three stages, consisting of data evaluation, geophysics and drilling respectively.

Cursory field and data review has identified several prospective target areas, including: El Pirul The property is located approximately 10 kilometres southeast of the Francisco I Madero sediment-hosted massive sulphide deposit.Dump material around the El Pirul shaft contains black chlorite schist with occasional five to 10 centimetres thick stratiform sulphide bands of sphalerite-galena-pyrite with trace chalcopyrite. Assays of this sulphide material contain up to 5.7 grams per tonne gold, 2,392 grams per tonne silver, 9.53 per cent lead and 17.20 per cent zinc. The black chlorite schist does not outcrop and no drilling has been done in this area.Veta Grande area Claims five to 10 kilometres north of the city of Zacatecas cover outcrops with significant copper and zinc mineralization.

Fragments of massive sulphide breccia are abundant on mine dumps. No geophysics has been run in this favourable volcanogenic massive sulphide environment. Western and Apex will each initially contribute $10,000 to the first phase, consisting of data compilation and mapping. The second phase will consist of geophysics at an approximate cost of $80,000, followed by a third phase of drilling. Results of each phase of exploration will be reviewed with approval by both parties required to move to the next stage. After completion of the first year exploration program, the parties may elect to proceed to a joint venture phase in which expenditures will be shared equally and standard dilution provisions will apply. If neither party elects to proceed to the joint venture phase, Western and Apex will retain the properties originally contributed under the letter of Apex's share of the first year exploration program has been financed by the issuance to Western of 11,126 shares of its stock. Western plans to sell these shares in tranches from time to time to meet financing requirement and will match the preceding sale with its own cash contribution.

For further information relating to previouis exploraation and drilling please refer to Westerns web site at www.westerncopper.com .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dale Corman

Dale Corman, Chief Executive Officer