A total of 33 companies and five prospectors will receive grants of $30,000-200,000 per project in round 16 of the EIS, with the government to refund up to 50% of drilling costs.

Gold projects again dominated the successful recipients, but there was also base metals, potash, lithium and petroleum projects named.

Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston said he was pleased with the diverse range of commodities, which highlighted the strength of the state’s mining sector.

While no conglomerate gold projects were in the mix, there were several grants to Antipa Minerals and Encounter Resources, which have the backing of majors Rio Tinto and Newcrest Mining respectively, for exploration around Newcrest’s Telfer operation in the Pilbara.

Southern Gold also received two grants for Goldfields gold exploration, while Rox Resources received two for nickel drilling.

WA’s biggest explorer by expenditure, Gold Fields, received two grants for near-mine exploration at Agnew and St Ives, while First Quantum Minerals was successful for its Rhea copper project.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies welcomed the latest announcement of grant recipients.

“The EIS has supported the discovery of Camelwood nickel deposits, the Yeneena copper deposits, and Dusk til Dawn gold discovery, as well as gold at Gruyere and the nickel discovery at Emily Ann deposit near Lake Johnston,” AMEC CEO Warren Pearce said.
 
 “One of the co-funded drill holes announced today may be the next Nova nickel mine, which was discovered using EIS geophysics data and co-funded drilling in 2011-12.”

While applications for round 18 will open in February, there are no future rounds of the EIS provided for in the government’s forward estimates.

“This program must continue beyond the next round of funding to encourage greater greenfields mineral exploration and the discovery of future mines,” Pearce said.

“AMEC will continue to advocate for the continuation of this vital economic program.”