Following the success of the first window of the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF), the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), the Council for Geoscience (CGS) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have opened the second window for applications.

The scope for the second window has been broadened to include applicants seeking funding in other sectors of mining. 

In the first window, R160-million was allocated to eligible applicants.

In a joint media release, the DMPR, the CGS and the IDC note that eight applicants drawn from sections of the sector and spread across the country successfully applied for funding, which was duly disbursed.

They explain that an amount of R240-million has been allocated for the second window, which opened on September 30 and will close on October 31.

Established in 2023, the JMEF forms part of South Africa’s mineral exploration strategy whose objective among others is to attract exploration investment, reignite mineral development, accelerate new mineral discoveries while encouraging optimal use of the country’s mineral resources.

Among other objectives, the DMPR, the CGS and the IDC explain, the JMEF fund enables eligible South African junior mining businesses to access funding so they can conduct prospecting work, increase junior miners’ access to mine ore bodies and promote economic inclusion that will support equitable economic growth.

Target minerals for the second window include tin, tungsten, copper, lithium, titanium, uranium, gold, antimony, arsenic and fluorspar.

For gold and antimony, they note that, while the fund will prioritise the greenstone belts, all gold and antimony exploration projects are welcome to apply.

Critical among revised terms of reference (ToR) in the new window states that applicants must be junior miners with a valid prospecting or mining right and that applicants’ funding requirements should be between R10-million and R50-million.

Other ToR requirements are that applicants use funding for early-stage discovery exploration activities – detailed activities to be outlined by CGS and agreed between all parties.

Examples of services that can be considered by the fund include drilling and logging; rock sample analysis; geophysics surveys; geochemistry studies; geotechnical assessment; geohydrological studies; environmental studies; and other requisite geo expertise that may include data interpretation and consolidation into a competent persons report.

Additionally, advanced exploration activities – detailed activities to be outlined by CGS and agreed between all parties – include further resource definition; geotechnical studies; metallurgical testing; environmental-impact assessments; permitting and regulatory compliance; and feasibility studies.