Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston today announced the successful applicants for Round 18 of the popular Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funded drilling program.
Round 18 will provide $5.3 million to 40 projects to be drilled in 2019.
The round attracted 73 applications – an increase of about 16 per cent on the previous round, which indicates a rise in exploration activities in Western Australia.
The successful applicants have projects across the State and several have used EIS precompetitive science to refine drilling targets in the Nullarbor.
The co-funding will support exploration for gold, base metals, petroleum, nickel, lithium, rare earth elements, potash and diamonds.
Recent EIS successes include Bellevue Gold Mining’s gold lode north of Leinster and Independence Group’s significant copper-zinc drilling intercept at Fraser Range, north-east of Esperance. The next round for co-funded applications will open in February 2019.
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As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:
“The EIS is stimulating an increase in exploration and major discoveries in 2018.
“Bellevue Gold’s newly discovered lode, beneath a mining centre that has been closed for 20 years, is likely to see operations restart and deliver jobs to the region.
“Exploration activities are vital for creating a sustainable resources industry that will strengthen the State’s economy and create jobs for Western Australians.
“This is why the McGowan Government is investing $10 million a year towards the EIS.”
