New Delhi, October 14: The Union Ministry of Mines has invited bids for operating rights to two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, with the auction covering 1,632 square kilometres and targeting polymetallic nodules and crusts containing minerals used in industrial applications and emerging technologies.
The ministry issued the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) on October 1 for Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01. Both blocks are being offered under a Composite Licence, with areas of 632 square kilometres and 1,000 square kilometres, respectively.
The auction comes as the Centre seeks to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains for economic growth, technological development, the energy transition and manufacturing competitiveness. Mines Secretary Keshav Chandra highlighted the potential role of the Critical Mineral Processing Park being developed on India’s eastern coast in processing minerals recovered from offshore areas.
At an outreach programme in New Delhi on Tuesday, ministry officials and organisations involved in the auction explained the bidding framework, exploration provisions and regulatory requirements to prospective bidders and other stakeholders.
Additional Secretary Veena Kumari Dermal outlined policy changes intended to facilitate transparent and responsible development of offshore mineral resources. Following stakeholder feedback, the ministry revised block configurations, including increasing the area of blocks containing polymetallic nodules and crusts to provide greater operational flexibility for exploration.
The ministry has also circulated the Terms of Reference and Guidelines for Baseline Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Management Plans for offshore mineral exploration and exploitation within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone to the concerned Central Ministries and Departments for comments. The guidelines will be finalised shortly, Dermal said.
The Geological Survey of India presented the blocks’ geological characteristics and mineral potential. SBI Capital Markets Limited, the transaction adviser, explained the policy framework, tender provisions and bidding requirements, while MSTC demonstrated how bidders can purchase tender documents and submit bids through its electronic auction portal.
The National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust outlined a scheme providing partial reimbursement of exploration expenses to Composite Licence holders of offshore mineral blocks. Participants also raised questions about the blocks, tender conditions, auction procedures and exploration support during an open-house discussion.
The pre-bid conference is scheduled for November 4, with November 13 set as the deadline for submitting queries. Tender documents will remain available for purchase until December 21, and bidders must submit their bids by December 28.
The tender notice and related documents are available on the MSTC e-auction portal.
