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India has opened an auction for two offshore mineral blocks in the Andaman Sea, inviting bids for Composite Licences covering exploration and development. The blocks together span more than 1,632 square kilometres, but the announcement does not establish reserves, commercial viability or mining activity.
What is being auctioned?
The Ministry of Mines announced the auction on 1 October 2026. It is for grant of Composite Licences under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 and the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024, as amended. A licence auction is a step in the process; it is not an announcement that extraction has begun or that a bidder has been selected. The Ministry’s launch notice is at Ministry of Mines auction announcement.
Where are the blocks, and which minerals are named?
| Block | Location described by the Ministry |
|---|---|
| Sewell Rise-01 | Southern part of Sewell Rise |
| West Sewell Ridge-01 | Off Great Nicobar Island |
The two blocks together cover more than 1,632 square kilometres. The Ministry says the seabed areas contain polymetallic nodules and crusts hosting cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper and rare earth elements. That description is not a measured estimate of mineral grade, quantity, reserves or recoverability; no block-specific figure for those measures or for economic value is stated in the announcement.
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The published schedule gives these dates and times, all in Indian Standard Time (IST):
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| Milestone | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Document sale began | 1 October 2026 |
| Pre-bid conference | 4 November 2026 |
| Deadline to submit queries | 13 November 2026 |
| Last time to purchase tender documents | 21 December 2026, 17:00 IST |
| Bid deadline | 28 December 2026, 17:00 IST |
The official advance notice gives the schedule and describes the offer as Composite Licences: Ministry of Mines advance notice. Prospective bidders should use the active tender documents on the MSTC auction platform for the complete terms.
What does the auction mean for technology and industry?
The Ministry points to potential relevance for advanced manufacturing, clean energy, electric mobility and electronics. These are the government’s stated strategic reasons for pursuing offshore minerals, not evidence that the two blocks will supply these sectors. Any contribution would depend on exploration results, recoverability, project economics, licensing and subsequent development.
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Detailed eligibility criteria, bid-security requirements, evaluation rules and contract terms are set out in the tender package, rather than established by the launch announcement. The announcement itself is not enough to advise a bidder on whether it qualifies or how to prepare a compliant offer.
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India’s first offshore auction tranche launched in November 2024 covered 13 blocks across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea. Seven were polymetallic nodule and crust blocks near Great Nicobar. That earlier tranche is separate from the two blocks now offered; its scale and status should not be read as evidence of awards, deposits or production in the current auction. Background is available in the Ministry’s first-tranche release and a March 2025 parliamentary answer.
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The parliamentary answer says the Ministry consulted the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Fisheries and other related bodies before notifying offshore areas under the relevant consultation rule. That is general background on the programme; it does not establish the environmental review or consultation record for Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01 specifically.
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