The Ministry of Mines announced on 13 October 2026 that it is auctioning two offshore mineral blocks, Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01, located in the Andaman Sea. These blocks, covering a total of 1,632 square kilometres, contain polymetallic nodules and crusts including nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese. The auction is for the grant of a Composite Licence to facilitate exploration and development. Interested bidders must submit their bids by 28 December 2026.
Key points
- Total auction area: 1,632 square kilometres across two blocks.
- Minerals involved: Nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese.
- By 21 Dec 2026: Deadline to purchase tender documents.
- By 28 Dec 2026: Deadline for submission of bids.
- Support: NMEDT offers partial reimbursement of exploration expenses.
When it applies
- Outreach Programme on Auction of Offshore Mineral Blocks
- sale of tender documents
- pre-bid conference
- submission of queries
- purchase of tender documents
- submission of bids
Who it affects
- prospective bidders
Refers to
- Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002
- Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024