The Queensland government has announced the opening of applications for the ninth round of the Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI), allocating $5 million in funding to discover new mineral deposits across the state.
This latest round of the CEI aims to support explorers in their search for Queensland’s next critical mineral deposit, with a particular focus on minerals essential for clean energy technologies.
Explorers can apply for grants of up to $250,000 to uncover minerals crucial for developing renewable energy solutions, including solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries.
The initiative builds upon the success of previous rounds, such as the funding awarded to Graphinex, which led to the discovery of a significant graphite orebody at the Esmeralda Graphite Project, south of Croydon.
Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart emphasised the importance of this funding, stating: “The mineral exploration projects of today have the potential to become the major mining projects of the future, which is why these funding initiatives are crucial.”
He also noted that overall mineral exploration expenditure in Queensland reached $919.7 million in the 12 months to June, marking a significant increase of $148.3 million compared to the previous year.
The CEI program complements the $315 million Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy and the $6.2 billion CopperString project, both designed to unlock the state’s mineral wealth.
This initiative aligns with Queensland’s broader efforts to position itself as a global leader in supplying essential resources for the renewable energy revolution.
Interested explorers are encouraged to submit their applications by December 11, 2024, through the CEI’s online webform.
The government’s continued support for the resources sector and exploration efforts underscores its commitment to securing Queensland’s role in the future of global clean energy.
