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Mining, Exploration and Geoscience

Renewals of mineral and coal exploration licences policy (Renewals policy)

Holding an exploration licence for minerals or coal in NSW comes with certain rights and responsibilities. Mining, Exploration and Geoscience (MEG) grants exploration licences for limited terms. Exploration licence holders seeking to renew their licence must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the efficient, sustainable and timely discovery and development of the State’s mineral and coal resources.

Download the Renewals policy for mineral and coal exploration licences (PDF, 304.69 KB)

About the renewals policy

The Renewals policy sets out:

  1. the purpose of an exploration licence and the government’s expectations of holders
  2. the general renewal criteria under section 114 of the Mining Act 1992 – that an exploration licence holder must demonstrate their genuine commitment to the efficient, sustainable and timely discovery and development of the state’s mineral and coal resources by completing their proposed exploration work program over the term of the licence
  3. the valid extenuating factors that may justify a decision to renew an exploration licence where an exploration licence holder has not completed their proposed exploration work program over the term of the licence
  4. the valid special circumstances an exploration licence holder may raise to justify retention of an area greater in size than that genuinely required to support the proposed work program in the renewal term sought (section 114A of the Mining Act 1992) and MEG’s progressive partial licence relinquishment expectations. 

The Renewal Justification Statement for Exploration Licences and Guideline: Completing a renewal justification statement assist exploration licence renewal applicants in demonstrating how they meet the Renewals policy criteria.

Download the Renewal Justification Statement for Exploration Licences (DOCX, 96.04 KB)

Download the Guideline: Completing a renewal justification statement (PDF, 188.75 KB)

Download the Exploration Guideline: Work programs for prospecting titles (PDF, 251.39 KB)

The Renewals policy aims to provide greater clarity and certainty to explorers as to the requirements for retaining exploration licences and the ground subject to the licences. It also aims to inform the community as to why and to what extent the NSW Government may renew exploration licences. It does so by providing simple and clear renewal criteria with a fair and reasonable extenuating factors and special circumstances framework that recognises the dynamic and iterative nature of mineral and coal exploration and supports consistent and equitable decision-making. It also provides greater certainty and confidence to landholders and the community in the likelihood of exploration licence retention and ongoing resource development in areas subject to exploration licences.

The updated Renewals policy delivers on action 4.2 of the NSW Minerals Strategy 2019 and aligns with the NSW Government’s Critical and High Tech Metals Strategy 2021

MEG developed the Renewals policy in close consultation with industry and community stakeholders and accepted stakeholder submissions in September and October 2021. To download a copy of MEG’s response to stakeholder feedback please click on the link below:

Download the Response to stakeholder submissions (PDF, 207.19 KB)

Transitional arrangements from 1 March 2023

To ensure a smooth transition to the new Renewals policy the following transitional arrangements apply:

  • All applications for the renewal of mineral and coal exploration licences received on or after 1 March 2023 will be assessed against the new policy.

Exploration licence renewal applications lodged prior to 1 March 2023 and determined on or after 1 March 2023 will be assessed against the new policy.

Related documents

For more information

For more information, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact MEG on (02) 4063 6600 or titles@regional.nsw.gov.au