Western Australia has committed more than $12 million to support 96 exploration projects across the state under three co-funded programs, reinforcing the long-term impact of its Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).
Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael announced the latest round of successful applicants under the Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program, Co-funded Geophysics Program, and Co-funded Energy Analysis Program, highlighting continued investment in resource discovery and data development.
Round 33 of the Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program accounts for the largest share, allocating more than $7 million to 46 projects.
The funding supports exploration across a diverse range of commodities and geological settings, helping companies advance early-stage targets and expand known mineral systems.
Recent drilling outcomes underscore the program’s effectiveness.
Great Boulder Resources reported significant results at its Mulga Bill – Eaglehawk project, where drilling intersected coarse visible gold and confirmed the broader scale potential of the system.
Meanwhile, Black Cat Syndicate identified extensions to mineralisation at the Mount Clement Antimony Project, intersecting the Taipan Lode at depth and uncovering a previously unrecognised lode containing antimony, lead, and silver.
The Co-funded Geophysics Program, through Venture 3, reached a key milestone by opening applications statewide for the first time.
This round awarded $5.3 million to 44 projects, broadening access to high-quality geophysical data and enabling more informed exploration targeting.
Earlier geophysics initiatives are already delivering measurable outcomes.
Data generated from Venture 1 and Venture 2 contributed directly to target development for three applicants in Round 33 of the drilling program, demonstrating early success in integrating datasets to guide exploration investment.
The Energy Analysis Program allocated approximately $500,000 to projects focused on data analysis, reprocessing, and new geophysical data acquisition.
These initiatives aim to maximise the value of both existing datasets and newly collected information, supporting more efficient and innovative exploration approaches.
In response to rising operational costs linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its effects on global supply chains, the state government will repurpose $3 million from the scheme.
This measure allows eligible grant recipients to access a one-off payment of up to $50,000 to offset increased expenses associated with drilling campaigns and geophysical surveys.
Additionally, recipients in Rounds 32 and 33 will be granted a six-month extension to complete their programs, providing greater flexibility amid cost pressures and logistical challenges.
The EIS has been a cornerstone of Western Australia’s resource development strategy, supporting discovery while reducing financial risk for explorers.
Its continued expansion and adaptation reflect the government’s focus on sustaining exploration activity and maintaining the state’s position as a leading global resources jurisdiction.
Looking ahead, applications for the next round of the Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program will open on 3 August 2026.
Further opportunities will follow, with applications for Series 10 of the Energy Analysis Program and Venture 4 of the Co-funded Geophysics Program scheduled to open in February 2027.
