The government has modified the offshore mining laws, according to Veena Kumari D, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, who was speaking at this year’s Critical Minerals Summit.
“We have made amendments to the Act for offshore mining, and we are working on the rules for that. India will be the leader in offshore mining because not many countries have done much offshore mining, and we have been working on it since August 2023,” she stated.
In his speech on Monday, Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao said that the offshore mine auction will take place in three months.
Production licenses for offshore minerals are now awarded through an auction process thanks to an amendment to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act of 2002.
“We are now establishing regulations. In order to ensure that we can auction off-shore mining blocks, we are creating seven different kinds of rules under that Act. The administration had earlier declared, “We have 15 blocks that the Geological Survey of India has explored. We need to hold interministerial consultations.”
The technique of extracting mineral reserves from the deep seabed—that is, below 200 meters—is known as offshore mining. During the process, undesirable sediments are flushed back into the sea, and poly-metallic nodules—which include precipitated iron oxy-hydroxides and manganese oxides—that collect metals like nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium, and rare earth elements are sorted.
India is poised to become a global leader in offshore mining, driven by strategic initiatives and policy reforms aimed at harnessing the vast mineral wealth beneath its oceanic expanse. With a coastline spanning over 7,500 kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rich in untapped resources, the nation is actively advancing its capabilities in deep-sea exploration and extraction.
Strategic Initiatives and Policy Reforms
In a significant policy shift, the Indian government has amended the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, to introduce a transparent auction-based system for awarding production leases for offshore minerals. This legislative reform is designed to attract investments, foster innovation, and provide sustainable solutions to bolster economic growth while supporting critical industries like construction and infrastructure. Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao expressed optimism about India’s ambitious strides in offshore mining, stating that the country is on the path to becoming a global leader in offshore mineral exploration.
Deep Ocean Mission
Central to India’s offshore mining ambitions is the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), an initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences aimed at exploring and harnessing deep-sea resources. Launched in 2021, the mission encompasses the development of technologies for deep-sea mining, underwater robotics, and submersible vehicles. A notable component of DOM is the ‘Samudrayaan’ project, which aims to send a crewed submersible to a depth of 6,000 meters to study and explore deep-sea resources.
Resource Potential
India’s EEZ is believed to be abundant in polymetallic nodules containing valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. These resources are critical for various industries, including electronics, renewable energy, and defense. The successful extraction and processing of these minerals could significantly reduce India’s dependence on imports and position the country as a key player in the global supply chain for critical minerals.
International Collaboration and Future Outlook
India’s commitment to offshore mining is further evidenced by its status as a ‘Pioneer Investor’ with the International Seabed Authority since 1987, granting exclusive rights to explore a 150,000 square kilometer area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
As the nation advances its offshore mining capabilities, it is poised to not only meet domestic demands but also emerge as a significant player in the international mining landscape, contributing to global efforts in sustainable resource utilization.
In summary, through strategic policy reforms, technological advancements, and international collaborations, India is on a trajectory to lead the world in offshore mining, unlocking the potential of its vast underwater mineral resources for economic growth and technological progress.
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%20/23%20cimr%204.jpg "India is selected to host the ICCC Conference in 2027.")