The State Government has opened applications for Round 16 of the Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program
| Date: | Friday, 15 September 2017 |
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Following last month’s announcement to continue funding the $10 million a year Exploration Incentive scheme (EIS), the State Government has today opened applications for Round 16 of the highly competitive Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program.
The aim of the scheme, now in its 10th year, is to encourage increased private sector resource exploration that will help lead to new mineral and energy discoveries. Exploration increases knowledge of the State’s geology and resources and also helps to increase employment opportunities. Most of the activities in the EIS are focused in underexplored greenfield regions.
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) Acting EIS Coordinator, Charlotte Hall said Round 16 applications for co-funding drilling projects must be for work undertaken in the 2018 calendar year.
"Successful Round 16 applicants will be refunded up to 50 per cent of direct drilling costs, with caps of $150,000 for a multi-hole project, $200,000 for a single deep hole, and $30,000 for a prospector’s project,” she said.
The program has already resulted in major discoveries including the Nova find east of Norseman that was supported by EIS geophysics data and co-funded drilling in 2011-12. Other success stories include the Camelwood nickel deposit, the Yeneena copper deposit, Millennium zinc and the Dusk Til Dawn gold discoveries, as well as deep gold at Gruyere and the nickel discovery at Emily Ann near Lake Johnson.
Submission details for Round 16 are available at the DMIRS website. Applications close on 20 October 2017.
