India has signed a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in a 10,000 sq km area of the Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean, Union Minister for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh announced on Saturday.
With this agreement, India has become the first country to hold two PMS exploration contracts with the ISA, reaffirming its status as a “Pioneer Investor” in seabed resource exploration.
“This is a historic milestone. By formalising exclusive rights for PMS exploration in the Carlsberg Ridge, India has consolidated its leadership in deep-sea research and strengthened its maritime presence,” Singh said. He added that the initiative is aligned with the Deep Ocean Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at seabed mineral exploration, mining technology development and advancing India’s Blue Economy initiatives.
Polymetallic sulphides, which contain iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold and platinum, are precipitates formed by hot hydrothermal fluids from the oceanic crust. Their commercial and strategic value has drawn significant global interest.
India had earlier secured a PMS exploration contract for the Central Indian Ridge and Southwest Indian Ridge. With the Carlsberg Ridge allocation, India now holds the largest exploration area granted for PMS in international seabed territory.
Marking 30 years of India’s partnership with the ISA, Singh said India will host the 8th ISA Annual Contractors Meeting in Goa from September 18–20. “Our long-standing association with ISA reflects our commitment to the principle of the seabed as the common heritage of humankind,” he noted.
MoES Secretary M. Ravichandran said the development was a matter of pride, as India is now the only ISA member state and government contractor to hold two PMS exploration contracts. He stressed that India would continue to focus on balancing mineral exploration with protection of the marine environment.