Unearthing Tassie’s minerals for the future

The Rockliff Liberal Government is stimulating mining investment through the latest round of successful Tasmanian Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI) projects. 

Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said 12 drilling projects are now set to share in more than $766,000 in funding. 

“Our Government is backing the mining industry to grow, and backing exploration may help us discover Tassie’s next new mine” Mr Ellis said. 

“These newly approved projects will deliver nearly six kilometres of exploration drilling and more than $2.1 million spent by industry. 

“As our number one economic earner, the mining and mineral processing sector contributes more than $3 billion a year in exports and supports more than 5,200 jobs.” 

The EDGI program provides up to $70,000 for direct drilling costs and $20,000 for helicopter support, if required, for successful applicants wanting to undertake mineral exploration. 

Mr Ellis said this was the first round of grants to specifically encourage exploration for critical minerals for defence manufacturing and clean energy such as tungsten, cobalt and rare earths. 

“In recent years, our country has shifted focus to find local sources of the minerals needed for battery and defence manufacturing," Minister Ellis said.

"Tasmania is supporting industry by developing our own critical minerals strategy and this is an important first step. 

“We are a small state but we punch above our weight in some critical minerals categories – at least four of these 12 projects have strong critical minerals potential. 

“It is fitting that a State whose history is proudly based on renewable energy is now helping to uncover the minerals that will help the rest of the world follow in our footsteps.” 


*The list of successful applicants under Round 8 of the Mining Exploration Grant Initiative follows. 

Further information on the Mining Exploration Grant Initiative is available on the MRT website.