India takes a major leap in ocean treasure hunt: This deal to give exclusive rights to explore underwater riches potentially worth trillions!

In a move that could transform India's economic future, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has signed a groundbreaking 15-year contract that will give India exclusive rights to explore underwater treasure worth potentially trillions of rupees. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi, where Ms. Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), visited India to formalise this agreement.

This isn't just any ordinary contract. India is securing rights to explore a massive 10,000 square kilometer area in the Carlsberg Ridge – an underwater mountain chain stretching 3,000 kilometers in the Indian Ocean. This area contains what scientists call "polymetallic sulphides" – essentially underwater treasure chests filled with precious metals like gold, silver, copper, and zinc.

Think of it as nature's own vault, created over thousands of years as hot water from deep inside the Earth carries these valuable metals and deposits them on the ocean floor around underwater geysers called hydrothermal vents.

Interestingly, understanding how these underwater riches form is like watching nature's own incredible manufacturing process. Deep beneath the ocean floor, the Earth's interior is extremely hot. When seawater seeps down through cracks in the seafloor, it gets heated to temperatures over 400°C – hot enough to melt lead. This super-heated water dissolves metals from rocks deep inside the Earth, creating a mineral-rich soup.

 

When this metal-loaded hot water shoots up through underwater vents (like geysers), it meets the freezing cold ocean water above. Just like how steam becomes water droplets when it hits cold air, these dissolved metals instantly solidify and fall around the vents, creating chimney-like structures over thousands of years. These "chimneys" are packed with valuable metals – it's like nature building its own treasure towers. While polymetallic sulphides form quickly around hot vents, cobalt-rich crusts have a completely different story. These form incredibly slowly – growing only 1-5 millimeters every million years! – on the sides of underwater mountains called seamounts.

 

“Ocean water naturally contains tiny amounts of metals. Over millions of years, these metals slowly settle and stick to rocky surfaces on seamounts, forming hard, black crusts that look like thick paint layers. These crusts are incredibly rich in cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements – metals that are absolutely crucial for modern technology,” remarked space analyst Girish Linganna who also has interest in oceanography.

India's story in deep-sea exploration began way back in 1987, making it the world's first "pioneer investor" under the UN system. The country was allocated a huge 1,50,000 square kilometer area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for exploring polymetallic nodules – small, potato-shaped lumps rich in metals lying 4,000-6,000 meters deep on the seabed.

 

After detailed surveys, India voluntarily returned half of this area to the international community, keeping 75,000 square kilometers. The country signed its first contract with ISA in 2002, which has been extended twice – in 2017 and 2022. But India didn't stop there. In 2016, the country secured another contract for exploring polymetallic sulphides in a 10,000 square kilometer area near the Rodriguez Triple Junction in the South West Indian Ocean.

 

The contract represents India's third major deep-sea exploration venture. On January 18, 2024, the Ministry of Earth Sciences applied for exploration rights in the Carlsberg Ridge area, submitting a comprehensive 15-year work plan.

 

The application sailed through international approval. During the 29th ISA Council meeting held from July 15-26, 2024, India's request was approved, clearing the way for this historic contract.

The Union Cabinet has already given its green signal, and the Ministry of External Affairs has provided its no-objection certificate, ensuring smooth proceedings for the September 15 signing ceremony.

The metals found in these deep-sea deposits aren't just valuable – they're the building blocks of modern life that touch every Indian's daily routine. “Every smartphone, laptop, and tablet contains copper for wiring, cobalt for batteries, and rare earth elements for screens and speakers. As Digital India grows, demand for these metals is skyrocketing. The batteries in electric cars, buses, and two-wheelers need massive amounts of cobalt, nickel, and lithium. As India aims to have 30 percent electric vehicles by 2030, these metals become crucial for clean transportation,” pointed out Linganna.

 

Copper is essential for electrical wiring in buildings, while zinc protects steel from rusting. India's rapid urbanization means enormous demand for these construction materials. Solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems all require these metals. India's target of 500 GW renewable energy by 2030 cannot be achieved without secure access to these materials. Advanced electronics in satellites, defence equipment, and India's space missions depend heavily on rare earth elements and precious metals found in these deep-sea deposits.

 

India currently imports most of these metals, spending billions of dollars annually. Deep-sea mining could reduce this dependency significantly. Besides this deep-sea exploration requires cutting-edge technology, creating employment for engineers, scientists, and technicians across the country.

 

In addition to this, excess metals could be exported, earning valuable foreign exchange for India. It will also help India in mastering deep-sea mining technology positions India as a global leader in this emerging field.

 

 

The contract signing on September 15 is just the beginning of a week-long celebration of India's deep-sea achievements. From September 18-20, 2025, Goa will host the 8th Annual Contractor's Meeting of ISA, with Ms. Carvalho attending as the chief guest. This meeting is expected to bring together contractors from around the world, positioning India as a major player in the global deep-sea mining community.

 

 

“While the economic opportunities are exciting, India is also mindful of environmental responsibilities. The deep-sea areas around hydrothermal vents are home to unique creatures found nowhere else on Earth. The exploration contracts include strict environmental protection measures to ensure that India's activities don't harm these delicate ecosystems,” observed Linganna.

 

With the contract in place, India will have 15 years to conduct detailed exploration of the Carlsberg Ridge area. This involves mapping the seabed, studying the mineral deposits, assessing environmental impacts, and developing technologies for potential future mining operations. The data collected during this exploration phase will help determine whether commercial mining is feasible and environmentally sustainable.

 

 

The fact that the ISA Secretary General has personally come to India for this signing ceremony shows the international recognition of India's expertise in deep-sea research. India's National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and other research institutions have built world-class capabilities in deep-sea exploration over the past three decades. This contract signing represents more than just a business deal it's recognition of India as a responsible and capable player in the challenging field of deep-sea mineral exploration.

 

The vast Indian Ocean, which has been central to India's maritime heritage for centuries, may now become key to the nation's technological and economic future. The contract marks not just the signing of a contract, but India's commitment to exploring the final frontier – the deep ocean – while ensuring that this exploration benefits all of humanity, as envisioned by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 

 

 

Maritime