Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative – Round 11

The Tasmanian State Government, through the Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI), is offering grants for co-funded exploration drilling projects. The aim is to provide a stimulus to greenfields exploration in Tasmania, especially for minerals included in the 2024 Australian Critical Minerals list. The State Government has committed $5.0 million over ten years to this initiative. The program is administered by Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT).

Since the start of the program in 2018, 103 grants have been awarded for the first ten rounds of EDGI. MRT is now seeking proposals from applicants for an eleventh round of projects, to be jointly funded by the successful applicants and the State Government. The projects will be undertaken during 2025-26 and completed by May 2026.

The Government contribution to each successful project will be capped at $70,000 for drilling costs, plus an additional $20,000 if helicopter support is required. Targeting of critical minerals is included as one of the technical selection criteria.

Applications are welcomed from mining leases, as well as exploration and retention licences. EDGI will continue to preferentially fund high-quality, technically, and economically sound projects that promote innovative exploration or the application of new exploration concepts and technologies.

Applicants may submit more than one proposal and applications can be made for all mineral categories, as defined in the Mineral Resources Development Act 1995.

Applications for EDGI grant funding must be completed and lodged online using our web-based Project Proposal Form.

You will receive a password by email to access, complete and lodge your application. The application is stored online and you can save and return to it at any time up to the closing date. Follow the Guidelines for Submission of Applications to help you complete the online Project Proposal Form. The guidelines describe the necessary information for submitting acceptable proposals. Additional plans and sections can be uploaded and attached to your Project Proposal Form.

Completed online Project Proposal applications, with the appended appropriate supporting information, are due by 2:00pm on Thursday, 27^th March 2025.

All proposals will be assessed by a panel comprising two MRT staff, an independent industry representative and an academic representative. The panel will use the assessment criteria, as detailed in the guidelines, to evaluate and rank all proposals received.

Applicants will be advised of their success or failure to obtain funding in the week starting 12^th May 2025. Successful projects will need to be completed and a Final Report, and all drill core / samples, submitted to MRT by Friday, 15^th May 2026. Grants will be paid after review of the Final Report, any time before the funding agreement ends on Friday, 5^th June 2026.

Successful applicants must agree to release to Open File new information and drill core/samples from their projects after a maximum confidentiality period of six months from submission of their Final Report.

For further information please contact the Project Manager, Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative, at info@mrt.tas.gov.au.

Critical Dates for this round:

Documents:

Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI) Program – Round 11, 2025 - Guidelines for submission of applications