India’s Ministry of Mines announced on Wednesday that it will auction offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, starting Thursday. This initiative aims to revitalize domestic deep-sea mining efforts after a previous auction failed to attract bidders.
The auction will involve two blocks in the Andaman Sea, granting a composite licence for exploration and extraction. This move follows amendments to the law in 2023, which enabled the auctioning of offshore mineral blocks.
In November 2024, India held its first offshore mineral auction, offering 13 blocks. However, the sale was canceled in December 2025 due to insufficient interest despite multiple deadline extensions.
The Ministry emphasized the significance of offshore minerals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, and rare earth elements, highlighting their crucial role in electric mobility, renewable energy systems, and electronics.
