PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) on Wednesday welcomed an announcement from the Western Australian state government to further cut red tape in the mining industry by changing the Programme of Work (PoW) approvals system.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said the change would improve efficiency and reduce duplication for the resource industry, while continuing to ensure strict environmental standards were met.

The state government has now extended the validity period for PoW approvals from two to four years.

The Minister 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 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 programmes. This includes unforeseen events that can impact on exploration work such as extreme weather, access to operators and equipment, and funding.”

The Minister said that the extended validity period would see a reduction in the number of PoWs requiring annual review and would deliver considerable efficiencies for the department and industry.

The period of validity 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.”

Amec CEO Simon Bennison said the changes would allow explorers greater flexibility in their drilling programmes and would be in a better position to manage changes in company circumstances and weather constraints.

“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,” Bennison said.

He pointed out that there were also other reform initiatives being addressed by the department that would deliver similar positive outcomes for the mining and mineral exploration industry and government.