Successful Round 29 EIS applicants announced

Successful applicants for Round 29 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) Co-funded Drilling Program, Series 7 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP) and the inaugural Co-funded Geophysics Program (CGP) have been announced.

All up, 47 applicants will receive grants worth almost $7.5m in the EIS for projects to be drilled between June 2024 and November 2025.

Round 29 of the EIS program saw a continued interest in battery minerals exploration with 57% of the project focusing on these commodities, including rare earth elements, lithium and nickel-cobalt.

Western Mines Group (ASX: WMG) received $318,000 to fund drilling at the Mulga Tank project and Miramar Resources (ASX: M2R) was awarded $180,000 to target nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group element mineralisation at the Mount Vernon and Trouble Bore projects.

More than $3m was awarded to 23 applicants for venture one of the inaugural Co-funded Geophysics Program, with 78% of the applicants searching for critical minerals. The successful projects will focus on under-explored greenfields areas in the central and eastern parts of WA.

Additionally, Series 7 of the Energy Analysis Program will offer $125,000 to three projects planned in the Canning Basin.

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael commented on the programs.

“The high number of applications we received is a strong indicator of the continued interest in WA’s mining industry,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing what exciting new finds result from the co-funded round 29 projects.”

The Co-funded Drilling Program will open round 30 applications in August 2024, while application for Series 8 of the Energy Analysis Program and Venture 2 of the Co-funded Geophysics Program will open in February 2025.