New record for online lodgement

There has been a surge in the number of companies using the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s state of the art online exploration approvals process.

The Department has been focused on streamlining process over the last year, and the changes have been reflected in a massive increase in companies making their applications online.

Figures from the Department of Mines and Petroleum show the number of companies using online applications for mining exploration during the last 12 months has increased from 16 per cent to 54 per cent.

The Minister for Mines and Petroleum Norman Moore says the new system is proving effective.

“More than 50 per cent of mineral exploration applications were submitted online this quarter, which shows industry is embracing this technology,” Mr Moore said.

“The response is a credit to the department’s continued work to expand the range of online services available for the mining and petroleum industry.”

Online applications take up to a week less to be processed.

Mr Moore said his Department continues to work with the resources industry to improve the processes efficiency.

“The shift to online lodgement has corresponded with a record level of interest in WA’s resources industry, during that time the department has also received a record number of applications for exploration and mining proposals,” he said.

In the 2010/11 financial year, the department received almost 2500 exploration applications and about 350 mining proposals. That’s an overall increase of 18 per cent compared to the 2009/10 financial year.

The department has finalised 1,317 exploration licences in the past six months, compared to 1,063 during the same period last financial year.

IMAGE: Sourced from the Department of Mines and Petroleum.