Polymetallic Nodules Programme
India’s Polymetallic Nodules programme is oriented towards exploration and development of technologies for harnessing of nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) allocated to India. It has 4 components viz. Survey & Exploration, Environmental Impact Assessment, Technology Development (Mining), and Technology Development (Metallurgy). In the 75,000 sq. km area of CIOB, the estimated polymetallic nodule resource potential is 380 million tones, containing 4.7 million tonnes of nickel, 4.29 million tonnes of copper and 0.55 million tonnes of cobalt and 92.59 million tonnes of manganese. Cobalt and nickel are strategically important metals.
While, the extraction of metals from the polymetallic nodules lying at the deep ocean floor is not yet found to be economically viable at this stage, an area of about 7860 square km has been identified in the CIOB for the First Generation Mine Site on the basis of detailed surveys & analysis. Environmental studies for mining of deep-sea polymetallic nodules were also carried out to evaluate the possible impacts of mining on deep-sea environment. A Remotely Operable Submersible (ROSUB 6000), capable of operating at 6000 m water depth was also developed and tested successfully at a depth of 5289 m for assessing environmental conditions beyond 5000 m. A remotely operable in-situ soil testing equipment was also developed for obtaining detailed geotechnical properties of the mining area at Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) and tested successfully at 5462 m water depth. A mining system is under development. A demonstration pilot plant with a capacity to process 500 kg nodules per day was commissioned on semi-continuous basis successfully for extracting copper, nickel and cobalt at Hindustan Zinc Limited, Udaipur. Another pilot plant has been commissioned at National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur with processing capacity of 500 kg per day for production of ferro-sillico-manganese ore from the residue obtained from the HZL plant.
India has entered into a 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority in the year 2002 for pursuing developmental activities for polymetallic nodules in the Indian Ocean. India continues to pursue the polymetallic nodules programme coupled with research and development efforts. China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA), China has been engaged in carrying out the activities pertaining to exploration of Polymetallic Nodules in the Pacific Ocean. The details of its activities are not known.
The above information was given by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy to the Parliament.
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