India will launch its first auction of offshore mineral blocks on Thursday, offering 13 sites across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea.
The move marks the country’s foray into undersea mineral exploration, aimed at bolstering domestic industries and ensuring supply chain security.
The auction, set for November 28, features blocks containing construction sand, lime mud and polymetallic nodules, critical for infrastructure projects, advanced manufacturing and the green energy transition, the ministry of mines said.
“This marks a transformative step in utilising India’s undersea mineral resources,” the ministry said, noting that the auction covers the country’s territorial waters, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
India’s EEZ spans over 2 million square kilometres and holds significant untapped resources. The initiative comes as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on mineral imports amid a global shift toward high-demand minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, essential for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles.
Coal and mines minister G. Kishan Reddy, along with junior minister Satish Chandra Dubey, will officially launch the auction in New Delhi.
The government’s efforts gained momentum following last year’s amendment to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, which mandated auctions for allocating exploration licences and production leases in offshore areas.
The changes aim to streamline the regulatory process and attract private sector investment.
