The successful applicants for round 30 of Western Australia’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) have been announced, with critical minerals projects firmly in the spotlight.
Applicants will receive grants worth $7.28 million to go toward drilling at projects between December 2024 and November 2025.
A total of 17of the 50 successful companies are targeting battery minerals including lithium and rare earth elements.
“It is pleasing to see exploration expenditure continue to rise in WA, hitting a record $2.6 billion in 2023, with demand for critical minerals soaring on the back of global decarbonisation initiatives,” WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael said.
“The EIS continues to support major mineral discoveries, with each project increasing the odds of opening new mines and creating jobs in regional communities.
“Our mining sector has once again demonstrated the significance of mineral exploration to WA’s prosperity, with mineral sales reaching $192 billion in 2023.”
Recent success stories from co-funded drilling projects include Kingfisher Mining, which reported a new lode of rare earth element mineralisation at its Mick Well project.
Western Mines Group also reported success with its EIS co-funded drilling in early 2024 confirming a belt-scale mineral system at its nickel sulphide Mulga Tank project.
Applications for round 31 of the program, series eight of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP) and venture two of the Co-funded Geophysics Program (CGP) will open in February 2025.
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