- More than $12 million awarded across three cofunded exploration programs
- Drilling, geophysics, and energy analysis projects supported State-wide
- Exploration success highlights the value of longrunning Exploration Incentive Scheme investment
- Recipients entitled to one-off payment of up to $50,000 to help with increased costs associated with the war in the Middle East and its impact on some supply chains
Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael today announced the successful recipients of funding under the Exploration Incentive Scheme's (EIS) Cofunded Exploration Drilling Program, Cofunded Geophysics Program, and Cofunded Energy Analysis Program.
More than $12 million has been awarded across the three programs, supporting 96 exploration projects across Western Australia.
Round 33 of the EIS Cofunded Exploration Drilling Program has allocated more than $7 million to 46 successful applicants, continuing to drive exploration success across a wide range of commodities and geological settings.
Recent success stories include Great Boulder Resources' Mulga Bill Eaglehawk drilling, which intersected coarse visible gold and confirmed the largescale potential of the gold system.
Black Cat Syndicate's drilling at the Mount Clement Antimony Project intersected the Taipan Lode down dip of the current resource, along with a previously unrecognised lode containing antimonyleadsilver mineralisation.
The Cofunded Geophysics Program - Venture 3 marked an important milestone, with applications open to proponents across the entire State for the first time.
The program awarded $5.3 million to 44 successful ventures, expanding access to highquality competitive geophysical data.
Venture 1 and Venture 2 geophysics programs are already delivering tangible results. Data from these programs contributed to target generation for three Round 33 cofunded drilling applicants, demonstrating the program's early impact in supporting informed exploration investment.
The Energy Analysis Program awarded approximately $500,000 to projects spanning analysis and reprocessing, as well as geophysical data acquisition, supporting innovative approaches to maximising the value of existing and new datasets.
The Cook Labor Government will also re-purpose $3 million of EIS funding to allow grant recipients to claim a one-off payment of up to $50,000 to help with increased costs associated with drilling campaigns as well as ground and airborne geophysical surveys.
Recipients will also receive an additional six months to complete their co-funded exploration programs.
The one-off payment of up to $50,000 and the six-month extension will apply to Round 32 and 33 EIS recipients.
Applications for the next round of the EIS Cofunded Exploration Drilling Program will open on 3 August 2026. Applications for Series 10 of the Energy Analysis Program and Venture 4 of the Co-funded Geophysics Program will open in February 2027.
For more information on the EIS and this round's successful applicants, visit: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/geological-survey-of-western-australia/exploration-incentive-scheme-eis
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"The Cook Labor Government's record $18 million investment in the Exploration Incentive Scheme ensures Western Australia remains the global frontrunner for mineral discovery and investment.
"By backing high-risk, high-reward drilling, we are helping explorers bridge the gap from a geological lead to a world-class mine.
"With more boots on the ground and more rigs in the dirt, the EIS is fast-tracking the discoveries that will underpin our economy for decades.
"I am also pleased to announce one-off payments of up to $50,000 and six-month extensions for EIS recipients to complete their projects, given the impact that the Middle East conflict is having on the supply chains of fuel and other inputs."
As stated by Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent:
"I'm proud to be part of a government that supports WA's ambitious exploration sector and thrilled that so many projects in the Goldfields-Esperance region will receive funding under this important scheme.
"Exploration and mining continues to be the lifeblood of the region and I wish all the recipients every success as they search for the State's next big resources deposits."
