Apply for an exploration project area

If you hold 2 or more exploration licences and are planning to complete a substantial amount of technical work in the project area, you can apply for an exploration project area (EPA).

Before you apply

You must meet the following criteria:

• application to be made within 60 days after the end of an operational year of the mineral titles for the project area
• all exploration licences (ELs) are at least 2 years old
• all ELs within the proposed project area are subject to an approved group report
• a substantial amount of technical work has already been conducted in the proposed project area
• a substantial amount of further technical work is intended to be conducted in the proposed project area
• all titles must be held by the same title holder. If the title holder is a body corporate, the application may be made jointly with a related body corporate.

For more information on group reporting, read amalgamated reporting for mineral titles.

How to apply

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application.

EPA application PDF (590.9 KB)
EPA application DOCX (65.5 KB)

Step 2. Submit the application by email, mail or in person to the Mineral Titles Branch.

By email

tmt.dme@nt.gov.au

By mail

GPO Box 4550
Darwin NT 0801

In person

Mineral Titles Branch
5th floor
Paspalis Centrepoint Building
48-50 Smith Street
The Mall
Darwin NT 0800

If approved

If an EPA is approved, the following apply:

• the approval applies to all the exploration licences in the project area
• an exploration project notice, called a yearly review, must be lodged in conjunction with the group expenditure reports
• the proposed technical work program can be carried out in any part of the project area – this does not mean all work is concentrated in only one area, and work must be done on all licences within the project area over time.

What and how to report

On or before the approved reporting date each year, you must submit:

• an exploration project notice (yearly review)
• group expenditure reports detailing the expenditure and work completed for the previous year for each licence.

For the project notice, use this template.

EPA notice - yearly review PDF (590.1 KB)
EPA notice - yearly review DOCX (64.6 KB)

For information on group reporting, read report on mineral titles.

Cancellation of project area

Your exploration project area can be cancelled if you don't complete the proposed technical work program.

If you fail to meet the expenditure condition, some or part of the licences in the project area can be cancelled.

Partial cancellation of blocks

If you fail to meet the expenditure condition, some or part of the licences in the project area can be cancelled.

For information on how cancellation is calculated, read guide to expenditure conditions.

Area reductions

You must surrender half the blocks in an exploration licence area at each renewal.

You can apply to waive or reduce the reduction requirement.

If you don't meet the expenditure condition in the same year, the department may refuse to consider this application.

Before making a decision to refuse an application relating to the reduction requirement, the department must take into account what effect this decision may have on the activities being conducted under the project area.