India opens bidding for two offshore mineral blocks in Andaman Sea

India's Ministry of Earth Sciences has issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for operating rights to the Sewell Rise-01 and West Sewell Ridge-01 offshore mineral blocks located in the Andaman Sea. The tender grants a composite licence, combining exploration and production rights under a single authorization framework.

The dual-block offering represents part of India's broader strategy to develop its offshore mineral potential amid growing global demand for rare earth elements and other critical minerals essential to clean energy and manufacturing sectors. The Andaman Sea, positioned in the northeastern Indian Ocean, is increasingly recognized as a promising frontier for mineral extraction.

Qualified bidders will compete for the right to develop these blocks under terms set by the government. The composite licensing model streamlines the approval process, allowing successful operators to conduct surveys, assessment, and eventual extraction under unified regulatory oversight rather than sequential permitting stages.

The tender details and bidding timelines are expected to be published through official government channels. Industry observers anticipate competitive interest from domestic mining companies and international operators with deep-sea extraction experience, particularly given the strategic importance of securing mineral supplies for India's growing industrial base.