Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael has officially opened applications for Round 32 of the highly successful Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), a program designed to support innovative mineral exploration across Western Australia.
The EIS program provides co-funding for exploration drilling, geophysics, and energy analysis, enabling companies to undertake high-risk, high-reward projects in some of the state’s most underexplored and remote regions.
This strategic investment aims to reduce exploration risk, encourage new discoveries, and ultimately bolster WA’s mining future.
Recent projects supported by the EIS have delivered promising results statewide. At the Dante project in the eastern Goldfields-Esperance region, early testing by Terra Metals produced high-grade vanadium-magnetite concentrate.
The EIS co-funding during the early exploration stages was instrumental in advancing this project to metallurgical testing.
Further successes came from the Kimberley region, where Future Metals benefited from Round 29 funding.
Maiden drilling at its Eileen Bore site confirmed the presence of copper, nickel, and platinum group element mineralisation.
Follow-up assays have reinforced potential for developing a bulk copper feed source that could be processed at Zeta Resources’ nearby Savannah plant.
In WA’s South West, Kula Gold reported encouraging early assay results from its Round 30 drilling campaign, including a significant gold intercept from the first hole at its Mustang prospect.
Applications for Round 32 opened on Monday, 4 August 2025, and will close at 4pm on Friday, 29 August 2025.
Minister Michael emphasised the government’s commitment to driving mineral exploration as a key pillar of Western Australia’s economic future.
He stated: “The Cook government is driving mineral exploration across WA to secure our future as a global leader in mining – particularly in the critical minerals essential to the clean energy transition.
“By working closely with industry and regional communities, we’re accelerating mineral discoveries, supporting local expertise, and creating jobs to ensure WA remains a reliable and trusted global partner.”
Highlighting the role of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, he added: “The Geological Survey of Western Australia plays a central role in supporting exploration across the state – co-ordinating the EIS and providing the high-quality geoscience needed to reduce risk and encourage investment.”