India Gets Global First Exploration Contract in Carlsberg Ridge

India has secured an exploration contract from the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore polymetallic sulphide nodules in the Carlsberg Ridge, located in the northwest Indian Ocean. Signed in New Delhi on September 15, 2025, this is the first licence granted globally for exploration in this region.

What Are Polymetallic Sulphides?
Polymetallic sulphide nodules are deep-sea rock concentrations rich in high-value minerals including manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper. These resources are considered vital for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

The Carlsberg Ridge
The Carlsberg Ridge spans about 3,00,000 sq km in the Arabian Sea and northwest Indian Ocean. It marks the tectonic boundary between the Indian and Arabian plates, extending from near Rodrigues Island to the Owen Fracture Zone.

ISA and Exploration Rights
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), countries must obtain ISA’s approval to explore mineral resources in the high seas — areas beyond national jurisdiction. Currently, 19 countries hold such exploration rights. India applied in January 2024 for two sites: the Carlsberg Ridge and the Afanasy-Nikitin Sea (ANS) Mount. While Carlsberg Ridge has been approved, the ANS claim remains pending as Sri Lanka has also sought rights over it.

India’s Previous ISA Contracts

• Central Indian Ocean Basin: Rights obtained in March 2002, extended twice, valid until March 24, 2027.
• Indian Ocean Ridge: Contract signed in September 2016 for polymetallic sulphides, valid till September 2031.

(Source: TH)