December quarter 2014 report shows strong performance on key approval processes.
| Date: | Friday, 06 February 2015 |
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The department finalised the majority of key approvals within target timelines.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) December quarter 2014 approvals performance report continues to show strong performance across key approval processes.
DMP Executive Director Strategic Projects Julie de Jong said the figures showed the majority of key approvals continue to be addressed within target timelines.
“It is extremely satisfying that the department has not only maintained its strong performance in the majority of key performance areas but also improved performance in some areas where we’d identified improvement was needed,” Mrs de Jong said.
“This is a pleasing result and a credit to the teams involved.”
There were 882 mineral tenure applications received during the December quarter and 3359 received during the 2014 calendar year.
Ninety six per cent of mineral tenure applications were finalised within the 65 business day target timeline in 2014.
In addition, 2294 mineral exploration and mining environment application were received in 2014 of which 95 per cent were finalised within the target timeline of 30 business days.
“More than 94 per cent of the applications received by the department during the 2014 calendar year were finalised within target timelines,” said Mrs de Jong.
“As the department’s approval performance target is to achieve greater than 80 per cent of applications finalised within target timelines, this is an excellent result.”
The December quarter 2014 completes five years of approval performance reporting by DMP, with clear trends becoming evident.
Programme of Work applications, required for mineral exploration, peak in the middle quarters of each year.
An increase in mineral exploration application occurred from 2009 to 2012. This followed the global financial crisis, a change in government and the subsequent removal of the uranium mining ban.
A declining trend can be seen since 2012, reflecting a period of mine expansion and recent lower commodity prices.
The full report can be viewed on the DMP website.
