The Western Australian (WA) Government has announced the winners of round 27 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funded drilling program and Series 5 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP).
A total of $7 million will be offered to 41 exploration projects, while three EAP studies will receive a total of $120,500.
The majority of the drilling projects will be for battery minerals, with lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese as the priority.
Copper is another major element included in many of the successful grants, with explorers showing considerable interest in the copper-gold mineral systems of the Pilbara region’s Paterson Orogen.
There was also a noticeable increase in the search for rare earth elements that are used as components in high-technology devices.
The successful EAP grants were led by biostratigraphic studies in the central Perth Basin.
Recent EIS success stories include Western Mines Group’s discovery of a significant nickel system in the Eastern Goldfields.
Additionally, Norwest Minerals has uncovered significant rare earth element anomalies at its Arunta East operations located near the WA-Northern Territory border.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said the EIS supports major mineral discoveries that drive new projects, create jobs and deliver economic growth to regional WA.
“The latest round of the EIS shows mineral exploration companies remain firmly focused on WA,” Minister Johnston stated.
The Minister added, “WA is emerging as a global battery and critical mineral hub, and this success would not be possible without the determined efforts of the exploration companies operating in this State.”
