New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- India has secured exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the Indian Ocean's Carlsberg Ridge region, under a newly signed 15-year pact with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Minister for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today.
With this development, India has become the first country to hold two active contracts with the ISA for PMS exploration, one in the Central Indian Ridge and Southwest Indian Ridge, and now a second in the Carlsberg Ridge, he added.
The agreement, inked between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and ISA, grants India rights over an exploration area of 10,000 sq. km in the Carlsberg Ridge. The site contains hydrothermal mineral deposits rich in valuable meta...