- Forty projects receive co-funded drilling support through Round 34 of the EIS
- More than $6.16 million awarded, supporting economic activity and future jobs
- Strong interest in copper, gold and critical minerals
Mines, Petroleum and Exploration Minister Daniel Pastorelli today announced the next round of successful applicants of Western Australia’s highly regarded Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) Co-funded Drilling Program.
A total of 40 projects across 36 applicants will share more than $6.16 million in funding as part of Round 34, advancing drilling programs in some of WA’s most prospective and underexplored regions.
Copper features prominently in this round, with around half the drilling programs targeting the mineral either as a primary focus or within multi-commodity systems. Gold continues to attract strong interest, with more than a quarter of applicants pursuing the precious metal.
Twelve projects will also search for critical minerals, including rare earth elements, cobalt, niobium, lithium and tungsten, reflecting the growing demand for the resources needed by future industries.
Almost two-thirds of the successful applicants are located in the Goldfields-Esperance and Pilbara regions, underscoring the important role exploration plays in supporting investment and economic activity across local communities.
The EIS is backed by the Cook Labor Government, and is fully funded going forward, delivering on the important election commitment.
Black Canyon Limited is among recent EIS success stories, with drilling confirming manganese mineralisation over a three-kilometre strike and contributing to a maiden mineral resource estimate. The discovery reinforces WA’s position as a globally significant source of critical minerals.
Co-funded drilling has also returned encouraging gold results for explorers including Ausgold Exploration, Great Boulder Resources and Cosmo Metals, highlighting the value of supporting early-stage exploration.
Applications for Co-funded Drilling Round 35, Co-funded Geophysics Venture 4 and Co-funded Energy Analysis Series 10 programs will open Monday, 1 February 2027.
For more information on the EIS and this round's successful applicants visit: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-mines-petroleum-and-exploration/geological-survey-of-western-australia/co-funded-exploration-drilling-program
Comments attributed to Mines, Petroleum and Exploration Minister Daniel Pastorelli:
“The Exploration Incentive Scheme shows how targeted government investment can help explorers pursue opportunities that may otherwise not go ahead.
“That support is particularly important in remote and underexplored parts of the State, where the potential rewards can be significant though the risks are often higher.
“It’s encouraging to see such a diverse range of projects being pursued through this round, reflecting the depth and resilience of WA’s resources sector.
“WA continues to set the pace in mineral exploration, accounting for around 68 per cent of national exploration expenditure and home to almost 60 per cent of the country’s exploration companies.
“When exploration succeeds, so too does WA which is why investing in early-stage discovery remains so important to continue to grow our economy and create more jobs.”
Media contact: Jordan Murray 0419 102 823
