India to launch offshore mineral auction in Andaman Sea
- India begins auctioning two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, seeking vital resources for electric vehicles and renewable energy
India’s federal Ministry of Mines said on Wednesday it would launch the auction of offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea on Thursday, reviving a push to develop domestic deep-sea mining after an earlier attempt failed to draw bids.
The auction will cover two blocks in the Andaman Sea for the grant of a composite licence, the ministry said, adding that the move followed changes to the law in 2023 that allowed it to auction offshore mineral blocks.
India does not plan to revive offshore mining auction in near term, sources say
India announced its first offshore mineral auction in November 2024, offering 13 blocks, but cancelled that sale in December 2025 after repeated deadline extensions failed to attract enough interest.
The ministry said offshore minerals including cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper and rare earth elements were important for electric mobility, renewable energy systems and electronics.
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