16 October 2026
The opening round of South Australia’s new $12.4 million Plan for Accelerating Exploration program - PACE Minerals - has generated significant competition, with applications from 43 hopeful mineral resources companies reinforcing South Australia’s mineral potential.
Over the next four years, the PACE Minerals program will deliver grant funding to support high-potential exploration projects that can unlock new mineral discoveries, strengthen South Australia’s investment pipeline and generate new geoscientific and groundwater datasets to open new opportunities across the state. The program supports a variety of initiatives including the use of innovative
exploration technology, encouraging more greenfield exploration and collaboration with research institutions,
By reducing early-stage exploration risk, PACE Minerals makes South Australia’s mineral opportunities more investable and supports the development of a stronger pipeline of future mineral projects across the state.
The initiative partners with industry to tackle exploration challenges to generate the data, technology and collaboration needed to bring new discoveries closer to investment.
The first round drew applications from across the resources sector, including explorers, mining companies and researchers seeking to pursue new exploration opportunities in South Australia.
PACE Minerals is central to the South Australian Government’s strategy to grow the resource sector, reduce early-stage risk and strengthen the state as a destination for investment.
Earlier this year, the Fraser Institute’s globally-recognised Annual Survey of Mining Companies for 2025 reinforced South Australia’s standing as one of the world’s leading minerals jurisdictions, ranking the state first for best-practice mineral potential, third for its geological database and fourth in the world on its Investment Attractiveness Index.
Successful projects will be announced following a detailed assessment process, marking the next step in turning industry interest into on-ground activity.
More information about the Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) Minerals initiative
