The union ministry of mines invited bids for two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, covering a combined area of 1,632 sq. km. The auction aims to encourage offshore mineral exploration and unlock resources that could support India’s industrial growth and energy transition.
Two Offshore Mineral Blocks Offered Under Composite Licence
The ministry has offered the Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01 blocks under a composite licence. Both blocks contain polymetallic nodules and crusts that may contain valuable minerals, including nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese. These critical minerals play an important role in industrial manufacturing and energy-transition technologies. Therefore, exploring offshore mineral resources could help diversify India’s mineral supply and strengthen the availability of essential raw materials.
Ministry Briefs Stakeholders on Auction and Exploration
Ministry officials briefed stakeholders on the geological potential of the two offshore mineral blocks. They also explained the auction process, regulatory requirements and financial assistance available for exploration activities. The idea was to improve stakeholder awareness of the bidding process and encourage participation in offshore mineral exploration.
Critical Mineral Processing Park Could Support Offshore Resources
Officials also discussed the potential role of a Critical Mineral Processing Park planned on India’s eastern coast in supporting offshore mineral processing. Such infrastructure could help strengthen India’s capabilities across the critical mineral value chain, from exploration and extraction to processing and industrial utilisation. As reported by projectstodsy.ai, as demand for critical minerals continues to grow, the proposed offshore block auctions could create new opportunities for mineral exploration and support India’s long-term resource security and energy-transition objectives.
