Junior Exploration Assistance

Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) aims to grow the mineral inventory of the Province through the discovery of new mineral districts, occurrences, prospects, and deposits.  JEA also aims to advance mineral discoveries through the stage of defining NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources and to enhance Newfoundland and Labrador’s competitiveness as a world-class mineral exploration destination.  Companies primarily engaged in mineral exploration and/or mining may be eligible, and can be in receipt of direct or indirect revenues from mineral/mining operations.

NEW FOR 2024

Beginning in 2024, JEA will also provide focused support for critical mineral exploration through Provincial Critical Mineral Assistance (PCMA).  PCMA is funded by the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) through an additional $1.3 million contribution to provide funding in the form of rebates for eligible exploration activities through JEA.  Eligible Critical Minerals for PCMA are based on Newfoundland & Labrador’s Critical Minerals List and are identified in the JEA 2024 Guidelines. Existing $1.3 Million ACOA funded Critical Mineral Assistance (CMA) will continue to be provided as part of JEA for the years 2024 and 2025. IET will also continue to provide $1.3 million Provincial Grant funding to JEA. So, JEA is now a combination of $1.3 million from Provincial Grant funds, $1.3 million from CMA and $1.3 million in PCMA, and will provide funding in the form of rebates for eligible exploration activities. .  Funding will be applied to projects in the following order: CMA (if eligible); PCMA (if eligible); and Provincial Grant funds. As is the case each year, JEA is pending budget approval.

CMA and PCMA funding will help provide larger rebates to companies who undertake eligible critical mineral exploration activities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador

An illustration of possible funding scenarios is available in the FAQs section of the JEA website. As in previous years, non-critical mineral projects will still receive a rebate through the provincial $1.3 million JEA grant funding.

The JEA 2023 Guidelines, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Intent Guide have been modified for 2024 to include the addition of PCMA.  It is the responsibility of parties interested in obtaining JEA support to review and follow the requirements of the JEA 2024 Guidelines to be eligible for funding.  The Final Report Form and Final Report Guide for 2024 will be posted to this webpage at a later date.

Pending JEA budget approval for the 2024 – 2025 fiscal year, rebates will provide financial support of 40 – 75% of approved exploration costs, to a maximum of $150,000 per project on the island of Newfoundland and $225,000 for Labrador-based projects. If JEA is oversubscribed, rebates will be prorated.  Please review the JEA 2024 Guidelines for more details.

JEA 2023 Documents

JEA 2024 Documents

Recipients

A listing of JEA rebate recipients and final rebate payment amounts will be posted annually. Final payment of rebates will match applicants’ eligible costs up to the maximum as outlined in the listing and will be dependent on the submission of a satisfactory final report and supporting documentation as outlined in the program guidelines.

Applicants

A listing of participants who have Letters of Intent approved for funding under JEA will also be updated annually.

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