The Western Australian Government has announced plans to expand its Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) next year to include a co-funded geophysics program, offering $2 million annually to co-fund greenfields exploration geophysics data acquisition.
The announcement comes after Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston unveiled the successful applicants for Round 28 of the EIS’ co-funded drilling program and Series 6 of the energy analysis program (EAP).
Round 28 will provide over $6 million in grants to 33 general applicants and three prospectors for projects to be drilled between December 2023 and November 2024.
Over half of successful applicants are exploring battery minerals, with five projects focusing on lithium, six on rare earth elements, and 13 on nickel.
Meanwhile, EAP’s Series 6 is offering $120,000 to three successful applicants for analysis and reprocessing projects in the Canning Basin and Officer Basin.
The total funding for both programs is $6.1 million.
Minister Johnston said the State Government recognises the importance of supporting exploration activities in Western Australia for the State’s economic success.
“No other Australian State comes close to matching our commitment to mineral exploration, and we are working hard to ensure WA continues to lead the pack,” Minister Johnston claimed.
“The ongoing interest in the Exploration Incentive Scheme reflects the strength of WA’s exploration sector and industry’s confidence in our State’s economic future,” he added.
Applications for the expanded EIS program will open in February 2024, along with Round 29 of the co-funded drilling program and Series 7 of the EAP.
