WA continues to be an attractive destination for exploration.
| Date: | Thursday, 20 October 2016 |
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Mineral exploration activity applications in Western Australia are up by 25 per cent since this time last year, according to Department of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) most recent approvals performance report.
Third quarter data for 2016 shows that Programme of Work (PoW) applications have increased consecutively each quarter for the last twelve months rising from 400 to 500 applications received since 1 October 2015.
Senior Advisor Graham Cobby said the consecutive increase in PoW applications over the last year was very encouraging news for the State. Exploration activity in 2016 to date has showed positive signs of recovery from the lower levels of planned activity in 2015.
Today’s results, published on the DMP website, show the number of mineral prospecting licence applications received has grown from 359 last quarter to 653 this quarter. This surge in the number of prospecting licence applications supports the increase seen in the number of exploration activities received by the department.
“The department’s approvals performance continues to remain high this quarter with an average of 98 per cent of all applications approved within the target timeframes. This exceeds our DMP business target of finalising more than 80 per cent of all applications received within target timelines” he said.
The results also show that during the third quarter of 2016, the department finalised:
- 99 per cent of mineral prospecting licence applications within 65 business days.
- 98 per cent of mineral exploration Programme of Work applications within 30 business days.
- 100 per cent of petroleum survey applications were finalised within 40 business days.
You can read through the report on our website.
