- Successful EIS applicants continue to uncover significant critical minerals in WA
- Current round will share in $1 million per year State Budget funding increase
Applications for Round 28 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) flagship co-funded drilling program and Series 6 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP) have opened.
This co-funded drilling round follows the State Budget 2023-24 funding increase of $1 million per year. A total of $7 million is now available across the two application rounds each year.
Recent success stories include Caspin Resources who received EIS funding in 2021, for exploration at its Mount Squires project. Drilling found a significant molybdenum-lead copper-gold geochemical anomaly.
The company received further EIS funding earlier this year to continue exploration at Mount Squires, including drilling its Duchess East prospect, where earlier work uncovered near-surface rare earth elements mineralisation.
Another EIS success story is Norwest Minerals’ maiden 20-hole drilling program at its Arunta West Project in the Pilbara. It found significant shallow mineralisation of rare earth elements.
Launched in 2009, the EIS program supports innovative exploration in greenfields, and underexplored areas of Western Australia. The EAP program encourages exploration of petroleum and geothermal resources using existing State resources, including drill core, sidewall core and cuttings, and existing data.
Applications for Round 28 and Series 6 close at 4pm Friday, 1 September 2023. For more information, visit: https://dmp.wa.gov.au/Geological-Survey/EIS-Government-co-funded-1433.aspx
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:
“Mineral exploration is one of Western Australia’s most important sectors, which is why the Cook Government will continue to support companies with the backing they deserve.
“It’s especially pleasing to see successful EIS applicants uncover the critical minerals needed to support our national and global decarbonisation efforts.
“I look forward to learning more about the latest exploration achievements and industry innovations at this week’s Diggers and Dealers event in Kalgoorlie.”
