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The people’s newsroom

PolicyMining

Mines Ministry courts bidders for two Andaman Sea seabed nodule blocks

The blocks, covering 1,632 sq km, hold polymetallic nodules and crusts with nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese. Bids are due by 28 December.

From the editorial desk · New DelhiPublished
Polymetallic seabed nodules
Polymetallic seabed nodulesPhoto: Hannes Grobe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Key points

  1. Two Andaman Sea blocks covering 1,632 sq km are on offer as composite licences.
  2. The seabed deposits contain nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese.
  3. The last date for bids is 28 December 2026.

The Ministry of Mines on Tuesday made its pitch to companies interested in exploring the floor of the Andaman Sea, holding an outreach session in New Delhi for two offshore blocks rich in polymetallic nodules and crusts.

The blocks, Sewell Rise-01 (632 sq km) and West Sewell Rise-01 (1,000 sq km), are being offered as composite licences. The deposits contain nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese.

Mines Secretary Keshav Chandra told prospective bidders that the auction is part of a push to strengthen India’s supply chain for minerals, and mentioned a critical mineral processing park planned on the east coast. Additional Secretary Veena Kumari Dermal said block boundaries had been redrawn after feedback from industry, including enlarging the nodule and crust areas.

The Geological Survey of India briefed bidders on the geology of the blocks, while transaction adviser SBI Capital Markets explained the auction rules. MSTC walked participants through buying tender documents and bidding on its e-auction portal, and the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust outlined a scheme that partly reimburses exploration costs for licence holders.

The auction runs under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, amended in 2023, and the auction rules of 2024. The notice inviting tenders was issued on 1 October. A pre-bid conference is set for 4 November, queries close on 13 November, tender documents can be bought until 21 December, and bids are due by 28 December.

The documents