Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive
Introduced in 2018, the Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive (TMEI) supports the diversification of Saskatchewan's mineral sector by promoting early-stage hard-rock mineral exploration projects.
With the 2023 announcement of Securing the Future: Saskatchewan’s Critical Minerals Strategy, bolstering the province's leadership in the critical minerals sector, the TMEI expanded rebates to all hard-rock mineral exploration throughout Saskatchewan. Between 2018 and 2025, applicants received over $5.9 million in grants, which funded drill programs that completed over 920 drill holes, resulting in $58.0 million in drilling expenditures and $172.5 million in project expenditures.
In 2025, the TMEI was further expanded to include borehole geophysical surveying, ground geophysical surveys, and additional drilling costs, including most pre-sampling geological and geotechnical tasks.
1. Benefits
- The TMEI focuses on supporting drilling, which is necessary for new discoveries. Ground and borehole geophysical surveys are a critical step in helping explorers define drilling targets.
- 2025–26 program funding totals $3.55 million.
- Eligible companies can receive a grant of 25% of drilling costs, including logging and downhole surveys, as well as ground and borehole geophysical surveys:
- Up to $50,000 per year for uranium exploration
- Up to $150,000 per year for all other hard rock mineral projects
- Straightforward application and verification process.
- From 2018 to 2025, 96 successful applications collectively received over $5.9 million in TMEI funding for programs totaling 926 drill holes and $172.5 million in project expenditures.
2. Eligibility
- Available to mineral exploration companies, or their designates, that hold a mineral claim and undertake drilling, borehole geophysical surveys, or ground geophysical surveys;
- All minerals regulated under The Mineral Tenure Registry Regulations are eligible at any location in Saskatchewan;
- As the TMEI is intended to promote new discoveries and advance existing programs towards a development decision; drilling taking place on mining leases are not eligible; and,
- The TMEI program is regulated under The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive Regulations (2018) and administered by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey branch of the Ministry of Energy and Resources.
3. How to Apply
The TMEI applications are based on a fiscal year from April 1 to March 31.
- Read and understand The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive Regulations, The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive Amendment Regulations, 2023 and the Information and FAQs.
- Apply for the incentive using the TMEI Application Form by December 31 of the fiscal year.
- Conduct field work for the fiscal year.
- Provide notification of program status February 1 of the fiscal year.
- Complete the Verification of Work Form along with required documents as set out in The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive Regulations and The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive Amendment Regulations, 2023.
- Submit the Verification of Work Form and supporting documents by email (tmei@gov.sk.ca) if small enough, by mail to the following address, or by secure file transfer on request by April 30 of the fiscal year.
TMEI Program
Ministry of Energy and Resources
Saskatchewan Geological Survey
610-1945 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK S4P 2C7