On September 15, 2025, India signed a new contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for polymetallic sulphides (PMS) exploration in the Carlsberg Ridge area of the Indian Ocean. India already has two ISA exploration contracts: one for polymetallic nodules (PMN) in the Central Indian Ocean Basin and another for polymetallic sulphides in the Central and South West Indian Ridge, signed in 2002 and 2016, respectively. Polymetallic nodules contain metals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese, while polymetallic sulphides contain metals like copper, zinc, lead, iron, silver, gold, and platinum, which are crucial for renewable energy technologies. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is working with the ISA to maintain these three contracts by collecting geological, geophysical, oceanographic, and biological data from the allocated contract area of the Indian Ocean. Comprehensive environmental baseline studies are being conducted to better understand deep-sea ecosystems, including finalising the deep-sea mining regulation. Simultaneously, seabed mineral mining technologies are being developed to prepare for deep-sea mining and critical mineral supply chains. The Release ID is 2198796, and the visitor panel is 714.
Key Entities Referenced
International Seabed Authority (ISA): International organization involved in seabed mineral exploration contracts.
Ministry of Earth Sciences: Indian ministry that liaises with the ISA for maintaining seabed mineral exploration contracts.
Indian Ocean: The location of the seabed exploration activities.
Deep-Sea Mining Regulation: Regulation being finalized by the ISA related to deep-sea mining.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEEP-SEA
EXPLORATION CONTRACTS
प्रव तथ: 04 DEC 2025 5:06PM by PIB Delhi
India has signed one new contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on 15th September, 2025
for exploration of polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the Carlsberg Ridge area of the Indian Ocean. Besides,
India has two ongoing exploration contracts with the ISA, one for polymetallic nodules (PMN) at the
Central Indian Ocean Basin and another for polymetallic sulphides at Central and South West Indian
Ridge in Indian Ocean, which were signed in 2002 and 2016, respectively.
Polymetallic nodules present in the seafloor contain metals like nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese.
Polymetallic sulphides contain precious metals like copper, zinc, lead, iron, silver, gold and platinum etc.
These metals are important for renewable energy technologies, including electric vehicles, power grids,
and solar systems.
Seabed resource estimation and environmental studies at mineral exploration sites is an integral
component of the contract with the International Seabed Authority. For this, geological, geophysical,
oceanographic and biological data are collected from the allocated contract area of the Indian Ocean.
Comprehensive environmental baseline studies, including biodiversity assessments are undertaken to
better understand deep-sea ecosystems.
Ministry of Earth Sciences liaise with the ISA for maintaining three seabed mineral exploration contracts
in the Indian Ocean and provide continued cooperation in the activities of the ISA including finalisation of
the deep-sea mining regulation. In parallel, technologies for mining of seabed minerals are developed to
be ready to participate in deep-sea mining and critical mineral supply chains.
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NKR/AK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2198796) आगंतुक पटल : 714
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