India Races for Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration in Pacific

India is set to apply for deep-sea mineral exploration licences in the Pacific Ocean, aiming to secure critical minerals for energy transition technologies. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is negotiating the mining code, while India's Ministry of Earth Sciences plans to focus on the mineral-rich Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

India will apply for licenses to explore deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean, aiming to secure supplies crucial for energy transition technologies, a leading government scientist reported to Reuters. While the UN-backed International Seabed Authority (ISA) has issued 31 exploration licenses, mining regulations are still under deliberation.

This month, the ISA council, comprising 36 members, is meeting in Jamaica to draft the latest mining code. M. Ravichandran, the top scientist at India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, noted that his ministry will collaborate with India's mining industry to apply for Pacific seabed mineral exploration next year.

India's plans, previously unreported, will target the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a mineral-rich plain between Hawaii and Mexico. Unlike China, India lacks expertise in seabed mining and will need three to four years to be mining-ready, experts said. Concerns about the environmental impact of deep-sea mining persist, with 27 countries calling for a moratorium.

(With inputs from agencies.)