India Explores Deep Sea Mining Opportunities at National Workshop
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) spearheaded a pivotal workshop focusing on deep sea mining, held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. In partnership with EY and NITI Aayog, this high-level Industry Outreach Workshop gathered leading policymakers, regulators, technology innovators, and financial experts to discuss the significance of the Blue Economy for India.
Strategic Importance of Deep Sea Mining
Deep sea mining is increasingly essential for India, particularly in securing critical mineral supplies needed for modern technologies like clean energy solutions, advanced manufacturing, and electric mobility. Key minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese are vital for these industries, making the exploration of new resource fronts crucial for the country’s economic and geopolitical stability.
Exploiting Indigenous Resources
India boasts an exclusive exploration contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), covering 75,000 square kilometers in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). This area is estimated to contain approximately 366 to 380 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules. Furthermore, India has distinguished itself as the first nation to obtain two exploration contracts for polymetallic sulphides, including a recent deal for the Carlsberg Ridge.
Pioneering Technology and Industrial Growth
Under the ₹4,077 crore national Deep Ocean Mission, the NIOT has made significant strides by successfully demonstrating indigenous deep-sea mining crawler systems capable of operating at depths exceeding 5,000 meters. This achievement showcases India’s expertise in critical subsea engineering.
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