Following success of the first window for the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF), the

Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), 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. Eight applicants

drawn from sections of the sector and spread across the country successfully applied for

funding, which was duly disbursed. An amount of R240 million has been allocated in

second window which opened today 30 September 2025 and will close on the 31st

October 2025.

 

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 utilisation of

the country’s mineral resources.

Among other objectives, 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. Targeted minerals for the second call include:

Tin, Tungsten, Copper, Lithium, Titanium, Uranium, Gold, Antimony, Arsenic and

Fluorspar.

For gold and antimony, the Fund will prioritise the greenstone belts, but all gold/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

• Applicant’s requirements should exceed R10 million and maximum of R50m

Other TOR terms require applicants to use funding for the following activities:

• Early-stage discovery exploration activities (detailed activities to be outlined by

CGS and agreed between all parties). Example of services that can be considered

by the fund:

• Drilling and logging

• Rock sample analysis

• Geophysics surveys

• Geochemistry studies

• Geo-Tech assessment

• Geohydrological studies

• Environmental studies

• Other requisite geo expertise that may include data interpretation and

consolidation into a Competent Persons Report (CPR).

Advanced exploration activities (detailed activities to be outlined by CGS and agreed

between all parties). Examples include:

• Further Resource Definition

• Geotechnical Studies

• Metallurgical Testing

• Environmental Impact Assessment

• Permitting and Regulatory Compliance

• Feasibility Studies

For enquiries:

JMEF@IDC.co.za

Email : mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za

Ends

Jointly issued by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR),

Council for Geoscience (CGS) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)