Norway did something similar with oil[1]. Companies could get most of their oil search expenses covered by the state, to encourage finding new oil fields. But

Norway did something similar with oil[1]. Companies could get most of their oil search expenses covered by the state, to encourage finding new oil fields. But if a company starts extracting oil from a field they have to pay heavy taxes on that oil. [1]: https://www.offshorenorge.no/om-oss/nyheter/2019/01/leterefusjonsordningen-pa-1-2-3/ https://www.offshorenorge.no/om-oss/nyheter/2019/01/leterefu...