Grants open

The Exploration Incentive Scheme's (EIS) Co-funded Energy Analysis Program (Series 2) for petroleum and geothermal companies and Exploration Drilling Program (round 24) are now open.

The drilling grants assist miners continue searching for minerals including nickel, cobalt, and graphite – the rare earth elements that are used to make the batteries that are needed to produce renewable energy. Other commodities include gold, silver, copper, diamonds, base metals, and platinum-group metals. 

Finding these minerals and commodities ensures Western Australia stays at the forefront of exploration, which is supporting jobs for Western Australians as well as supplying critical minerals to local and international industries.

Over the course of a 12 month period the drilling program offers up to $5 million as an incentive for exploration companies to explore in greenfields and under-explored areas of Western Australia.

The Energy Analysis Program offers funding for the analysis of existing geothermal- and petroleum-related resources such as sidewall core and cuttings, to achieve a better understanding of WA’s petroleum and geothermal systems. Refunds of up to 50 per cent of analysis costs, to a maximum of $50,000, per application are available. The entire field is capped at $250,000 per series.

Applications for the co-funded programs close at 4pm on 27 August 2021.