<p>New Delhi: Some Indian mining and cement companies have approached Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC for technical assistance as they prepare to bid for deep-sea mineral blocks up for auction, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>In November, India launched the first tranche of auction for 13 offshore deep-sea mineral blocks, including three lime mud blocks, three construction sand blocks, and seven polymetallic nodule blocks.</p>.<p>The blocks contain critical minerals, including cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel, which are vital for electric vehicles and solar panels.</p>.<p>Bidding for the first tranche of the auction is expected to conclude by the end of March.</p>.Turkey detains 37 people over social media posts on detained Istanbul mayor.<p>Unlike countries like China, India is not yet prepared to extract minerals from the ocean's depths due to a lack of seabed mining expertise, experts say.</p>.<p>Anticipating a surge in demand, India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, is keen to accelerate seabed mineral exploration to boost the supply of raw materials critical for energy transition technologies.</p>.<p>India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to add 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030, up from 165 GW currently, while also aiming for net zero emissions by 2070.</p>.<p>IHC has assisted with knowledge of mining techniques and helping Indian companies estimate costs for extracting minerals from offshore blocks, one of the sources said.</p>.<p>"The company is also open to providing mining equipment to its clients should the opportunity arise," the source said.</p>.<p>Both sources did not wish to be identified as talks were confidential.</p>.<p>India's Ministry of Mines did not respond to a <em>Reuters</em> email seeking comment, while Royal IHC declined to comment.</p>.<p>About 14 foreign miners from France, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden participated in a government-sponsored virtual seminar aimed at explaining opportunities in offshore mining in India, according to the second source.</p>.<p>India has also offered financial incentives to encourage miners to participate in the country's first-ever attempt to explore seabed minerals, the sources said.</p>.<p>New Delhi has had limited success in its onshore critical minerals auction, with only about half of the 48 blocks successfully awarded to bidders. </p>
<p>New Delhi: Some Indian mining and cement companies have approached Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC for technical assistance as they prepare to bid for deep-sea mineral blocks up for auction, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>In November, India launched the first tranche of auction for 13 offshore deep-sea mineral blocks, including three lime mud blocks, three construction sand blocks, and seven polymetallic nodule blocks.</p>.<p>The blocks contain critical minerals, including cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel, which are vital for electric vehicles and solar panels.</p>.<p>Bidding for the first tranche of the auction is expected to conclude by the end of March.</p>.Turkey detains 37 people over social media posts on detained Istanbul mayor.<p>Unlike countries like China, India is not yet prepared to extract minerals from the ocean's depths due to a lack of seabed mining expertise, experts say.</p>.<p>Anticipating a surge in demand, India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, is keen to accelerate seabed mineral exploration to boost the supply of raw materials critical for energy transition technologies.</p>.<p>India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to add 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030, up from 165 GW currently, while also aiming for net zero emissions by 2070.</p>.<p>IHC has assisted with knowledge of mining techniques and helping Indian companies estimate costs for extracting minerals from offshore blocks, one of the sources said.</p>.<p>"The company is also open to providing mining equipment to its clients should the opportunity arise," the source said.</p>.<p>Both sources did not wish to be identified as talks were confidential.</p>.<p>India's Ministry of Mines did not respond to a <em>Reuters</em> email seeking comment, while Royal IHC declined to comment.</p>.<p>About 14 foreign miners from France, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden participated in a government-sponsored virtual seminar aimed at explaining opportunities in offshore mining in India, according to the second source.</p>.<p>India has also offered financial incentives to encourage miners to participate in the country's first-ever attempt to explore seabed minerals, the sources said.</p>.<p>New Delhi has had limited success in its onshore critical minerals auction, with only about half of the 48 blocks successfully awarded to bidders. </p>