TARGETED drilling projects throughout the state have been given a boost by Bligh Government grants worth $2 million.
Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson, says the grants will help fund 20 collaborative drilling projects, supporting the mining sector during the downturn.
“New exploration will provide a boost to the mining industry in Queensland, today’s exploration leads to tomorrow’s mines and jobs,” says Robertson.
Robertson says the drilling projects demonstrate innovative exploration ideas or are located in under-explored areas of the state.
“Fifteen of the projects are based in north and northwest Queensland, two in central Queensland and the remainder in western and southeastern parts of the state,” he says.
“Collaborative drilling Initiative grants bring government and industry together to accelerate testing of geological targets by drilling in under-explored parts of Queensland. The grants program provides up to $150,000 per project to assist in the testing of potentially mineralised targets by drilling.”
This is the third round of collaborative drilling initiative grants to be announced in Queensland. In the first two rounds, 48 projects from 38 companies received more than $4.34 million to assist in exploration vital to the discovery of new mineral deposits which can create new mines in Queensland.
The grants are part of the Queensland Government’s $29.08 million Smart Mining - Future Prosperity program.
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