The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) brought together industry leaders and policymakers to advance India’s deep sea mining ambitions and strengthen its access to critical minerals. In association with knowledge partner EY and NITI Aayog, MoES and NIOT hosted a high-level Industry Outreach Workshop on “Deep Sea Mining – Business Opportunities and Strategic Importance” at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The workshop brought together policymakers, regulators, technology developers, research institutions and financial leaders from India and abroad. The discussions focused on accelerating India’s Blue Economy while developing new sources of critical minerals.
Deep Sea Mining Gains Strategic Importance
Critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese play an important role in clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, electric mobility and high-computing systems. As global demand for these materials continues to increase, India needs to diversify its resource base. Developing deep sea mineral resources could therefore strengthen the country’s long-term economic, industrial and geopolitical security.
India Holds Vast Deep Sea Mineral Resources
India has secured significant exploration rights in the international seabed. The country holds an International Seabed Authority (ISA) exploration contract covering 75,000 sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). The area is estimated to contain approximately 366–380 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules, which contain valuable minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese. Moreover, India is the first country to hold two exploration contracts for polymetallic sulphides, including a recent agreement covering the Carlsberg Ridge. These resources could provide additional opportunities to strengthen India’s future critical mineral supply chains.
Indigenous Technology Supports Deep Sea Mining
India is also building domestic capabilities to explore and recover deep sea mineral resources. Under the ₹4,077 crore Deep Ocean Mission, NIOT has successfully demonstrated indigenous deep sea mining crawler systems at depths exceeding 5,000 metres in the Indian Ocean. This achievement demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in subsea engineering, marine robotics and deep ocean exploration. In turn, these technologies could support the country’s transition from exploration to future commercial operations.
Creating a Mine-to-Metal Industrial Ecosystem
Moving from exploration to commercial deep sea mining could create opportunities across multiple industries. Rather than focusing solely on mineral extraction, India can develop an integrated
“mine-to-metal” ecosystem. This could generate new business opportunities in offshore engineering, marine robotics, shipbuilding, subsea technology, mineral processing and metallurgy, critical mineral refining and battery manufacturing and downstream industries. Consequently, deep sea mining could become an important component of India’s broader strategy to build resilient domestic supply chains for the clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Industry Participation to Shape Future Policy
The workshop also served as a platform to connect India’s scientific and technological capabilities with private-sector investment. The discussions are expected to support the development of future policy frameworks, bankable project roadmaps and greater industry participation. In addition, an upcoming White Paper on Deep Sea Mining is expected to provide further direction for India’s industrial integration strategy.
Exploitation Code Required for Commercial Mining
Despite the progress in exploration and technology development, commercial mining of polymetallic nodules in international waters cannot begin until the International Seabed Authority finalises and adopts the Exploitation Code. Therefore, India’s current focus remains on developing technology, strengthening regulatory preparedness, engaging industry and building the capabilities required for responsible deep sea mineral development. As reported by pib.gov.in, as global competition for critical minerals intensifies, India’s deep sea mining programme could play an increasingly important role in securing resources needed for energy transition, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing and future industrial growth.
