AMEC cheers WA Government PoW validity increase

IN THE LOBBY:     The Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum has increased the validity period for Programs of Work from two to four years.

The DMP claims the decision will improve efficiency, provide flexibility and uphold environmental standards, as the State Government has cut red tape for the mining industry with a change to the Program of Work (PoW) approvals system.
 
Announcing the change WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said the change would improve efficiency and reduce duplication for the resource industry – and continue to ensure strict environmental standards were met.

First of the lobby groups to jump on the announcement was the WA-based Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), which has claimed some credit for the expansion to the PoW time frame.

“This will give exploration and mining companies far greater flexibility in their drilling programs and will be in a better position to manage changes in company circumstances and weather constraints,” AMEC chief executive officer Simon Bennison said.

“AMEC has been the key driver encouraging the Department of Mines and Petroleum to seriously look at the need for greater efficiency in the issuing of PoWs.

“This change will also bring Western Australia more in line with similar administration practices of PoWs in other states.

“This has been a critical area of advocacy for AMEC to improve efficiencies within Government and industry.

“It is part of an ongoing process to improve the regulatory environment in Western Australia and is certainly pleasing to see the Minister and the Department respond positively to AMEC’s recommendation.”

Minister Marmion said PoW approvals ensured resource companies conducted exploration in an environmentally sustainable way and set out the timeframe for companies to complete exploration works.
 
The Department of Mines and Petroleum indicated it received 2,596 PoW applications in 2012.
 
“This will improve efficiency and reduce duplication for the resources industry, while at the same time ensuring strict environmental standards,” Marmion said.
 
“This decision provides greater flexibility for industry to manage exploration programs. This includes unforeseen events that can impact on exploration work such as extreme weather, access to operators and equipment, and funding.”
 
In December last year the WA Government took the step of extending the standard PoW period of validity from one to two years.

That move was given a rousing thumbs up by industry stakeholders, providingthe impetus behind the DMP’s latest decision.
 
“This will see a reduction in the number of PoWs requiring annual review and will deliver considerable efficiencies for the department and industry,” Marmion said.
 
According to the DMP the period of validity for a PoW will only apply where the scope of the exploration work remains unchanged.
 
“If a company wants to conduct work outside what was approved, they will need to seek further approval before they are able to carry out that work,” Marmion said.
 

“This decision strikes an important balance between reducing duplication, providing flexibility, increasing efficiency and upholding environmental standards.”

Source: WA Department of Mines and Petroleum