Department of Mines and Petroleum facts for kids

The Department of Mines and Petroleum was a government group in Western Australia. It helped manage mining and oil industries. This department existed from 2009 to 2017. On July 1, 2017, a new group called the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety took over its work.

The department started on January 1, 2009. It was created from parts of two older departments: the Department of Industry and Resources and the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection. These two older groups were split into three new ones. These new groups were the Department of Mines and Petroleum, the Department of State Development, and the Department of Commerce.

The main job of the Department of Mines and Petroleum was to look after the mining and oil industries. It made sure rules were followed and that safety was a top priority. It also worked with the Geological Survey of Western Australia, which studies rocks and minerals.

The department also ran a website called MINEDEX. This website was always updated. It had information about mines, mineral deposits, and possible new mining spots in Western Australia.

How It All Started

The very first Department of Mines began on January 1, 1894. It kept that name until July 1, 1992. Then, it changed its name to the Department of Minerals and Energy.

From 1894 to 1992, the department had different sections. These sections helped it do its work. Some of the early sections were:

• Registration
• Accounts Correspondence
• Drafting
• Government Geologist (later called the Geological Survey Branch)

Before the name change in 1992, these sections grew and became bigger divisions. Some of these divisions included:

• Geological Survey (studying rocks)
• Mining Engineering (designing mines)
• Petroleum Operations (dealing with oil and gas)
• Government Chemical Laboratories (testing materials)
• Corporate Services (managing the department)
• Explosives and Dangerous Goods (safety with risky items)
• Mining Registration (keeping records of mines)
• Surveys & Mapping (making maps)

Changes in the 2000s

On July 1, 2001, two departments joined together. The Department of Minerals and Energy combined with the Department of Resources Development. They formed a new group called the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

Later, in 2003, there was another big change. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources joined with the Department of Industry and Technology. On February 3, 2003, they became the Department of Industry and Resources.

This new department had different business groups. These groups helped organize its work. They included:

• Mineral and Petroleum Resources
• Business and Trade Services
• Investment Services

The department changed again on January 1, 2009. This is when three new departments were created. These new departments were:

• Department of Mines and Petroleum (the main topic of this article)
• Department of State Development
• Department of Commerce (which also included science and innovation tasks)