- More than $5 million in funding for 43 drilling projects in WA
- Exploration Incentive Scheme supported over 560,000m of drilling since 2009
- The State Government today released the successful applicants for Round 15 of the co-funded Exploration Drilling program – part of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).
Funding of $5.26 million will be provided to 43 recipients, including prospectors, for projects planned to be drilled during the 2017-18 financial year.
EIS success stories include the discovery of Camelwood nickel deposits, the Yeneena copper deposits, and Dusk til Dawn gold discovery, as well as gold at Gruyere and the nickel discovery at Emily Ann deposit near Lake Johnston.
The Nova nickel mine was discovered using EIS geophysics data and co-funding in 2011-12; 360 people are now working on site since production began in November 2016.
Another round of the highly competitive co-funded drilling program will open in mid-September 2017 calling for applications for projects to be drilled in 2018.
A list of successful Round 15 applicants and a map showing the distribution of projects is available at http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/eisdrilling
Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:
“Programs supported by co-funding give companies an extra incentive to drill in underexplored areas.
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting the future of Western Australia’s vital resources industry.
“Our continued investment in the EIS helps create economic opportunities for the future.
“An Economic Impact Study released early in 2015 shows $10.3 million of exploration activity results from every $1 million invested in the EIS.”
Add Comment