The successful applicants for three government-funded programs to support mineral discoveries in Western Australia have been announced.
The programs include Round 29 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) Co-funded Drilling Program, Series 7 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP), and the inaugural Co-funded Geophysics Program (CGP).
Forty-seven applicants will receive grants worth almost $7.5 million in the EIS Round 29 for projects to be drilled between June 2024 and November 2025.
The Co-funded Drilling Program saw continued interest in battery minerals exploration, with 57 per cent of the successful 47 projects targeting commodities including rare earth elements, lithium and nickel-cobalt.
More than $3 million was awarded to 23 successful applicants for Venture 1 of the Co-funded Geophysics Program, with 78 per cent actively searching for critical minerals.
The successful projects are expected to focus on greenfields areas in the central and eastern parts of Western Australia.
Series 7 of the Energy Analysis Program will also offer $125,000 to three successful projects planned in the Canning Basin.
The Co-funded Drilling Program will open for Round 30 applications in August 2024.
Applications for Series 8 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP) and Venture 2 of the Co-funded Geophysics Program (CGP) will open in February 2025.
Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, David Michael, said, “Exploration is the bedrock of ongoing success in our powerhouse resources sector and the Western Australian Government is committed to helping facilitate new mineral discoveries.
“The high number of applications we received is a strong indicator of the continued interest in Western Australia’s mining industry.
“I look forward to seeing what exciting new finds result from the co-funded Round 29 projects.”
Image credit: Adwo/Shutterstock.com.
