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OPINION OCTOBER 20, 2023 | The Indian Eye 12

Renewable Energy Installed Capacity (MW). Source: Joint Research Centre, The European Commission’s science
Source: Central Electricity Authority, Government of India and knowledge service, 2016.

undertaken by National Institute of models for developing these off- tonomous organisation established mand of critical minerals and REEs.
Wind Energy (NIWE) indicates a shore wind sites. Another significant by United Nations Convention on The Toyota Tsusho Corporation
total wind energy potential of 302 progress has been commissioning the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on has been undertaking REEs pro-
GW at 100 meters hub height. The of a Light Detection and Ranging 16 November 1994. A contract with duction activities at Visakhapatnam
MNRE has further specified that (LiDARs) off Gujarat coast near the ISA is imperative to undertake through its subsidiary unit. India has
initial studies indicate an estimated Pipavav in 2017 for Offshore Wind activities related to exploration and future plans to start REEs mining
offshore wind energy potential of Resource assessment. The data col- exploitation of seabed mineral in activities at more sites such as coast-
about 70GW within identified zones lected has been analysed to validate the Area. So far, 29 exploration con- al belt in Puri, Odisha and collabora-
of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. the satellite data and published by tracts for an area comprising more tion with Japan would be crucial in
The story of global offshore NIWE. than 1.3 million sq km of the ocean such endeavours. Japan also aims to
wind energy is around three decades Given the demand and supply floor have been issued in the Indian, commence extraction of rare earth
old. The first offshore wind turbine reasons, the REEs of late have been Atlantic and Pacific oceans. metals from deep sea in 2024 by
was established in 1991 (decom- gaining immense strategic value be- developing robotic deep sea mining
missioned in 2017) in Denmark, as coming crucial link in the complex India plans to develop reliable technology. It has one of the world’s
a demonstration project.10 India’s global value chain. The Rare Earths richest seabed minerals deposit in
endeavours in this area commenced crunch in 2010, though short-lived, deep-sea mining to tap ocean the areas such as Okinawa trough
in 2013 with the project ‘Facilitat- elicited geopolitical considerations resources to address its need and Minami-Torishima islands. A
ing Offshore Wind Energy in India and proposals started floating to for rare earth minerals from the collaboration between India and Ja-
(FOWIND)’, which intended to look for alternate solutions such as pan to tackle the challenges of deep-
identify potential zones in Gujarat mining in Amazon rainforest or sea CIOB which has estimated re- sea mining and technology develop-
and Tamil Nadu to foster India’s bed or even looking at the option of source prospects of around 380 ment thus holds immense potential
transition towards clean technolo- obtaining it from the moon. The US million tonnes of polymetallic and could prove vital.
gies. The project was undertaken proclamation that mining of REEs is The contours of deep-sea mining
with assistance of Global Wind En- an issue pertaining to national secu- nodules consisting of 4.7 mil- which pose strong environmental,
ergy Council (GWEC) and was sup- rity therefore seems to be unambig- lion tonnes of nickel, 4.29 mil- technological and social challenges
ported by European Union (EU). uous. lion tonnes of copper, 0.55 mil- also provide India an alternate and
Another project, Offshore Wind Conservationists have been vo- a viable solution to meet its quest
Power project in India (FOWPI) ciferous in expressing the adverse lion tonnes of cobalt and 92.59 for these critical minerals. Scientific
supported by EU is underway since impact of deep-sea mining on the million tonnes of manganese. pursuits, environmental assessments
2015 and has provided invaluable ocean environment which is already and scaling up of capacity and capa-
assistance in capacity building of In- facing threats from global warming, The huge mineral resources can bilities must therefore continue as
dian stakeholders and for Pre-Finan- ocean acidification, pollution, plastic help India in becoming self-sufficient India advances for further explora-
cial-Investment-Decision. debris, and over fishing. The fear of in these critical metals and cut the tion of the deep ocean for resources.
The data obtained from satellite deep-sea mining having cascading supply chain vulnerabilities.
and other sources has helped in iden- effect on ocean stability and ocean From the prism of geo-econom- Comdt Manoranjan Srivastava is
tification of eight potential offshore food web therefore needs to be fac- ics, prioritising deep sea mission Research Fellow at the Manohar Par-
zones off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu tored into prior to undertaking any seems as an inescapable necessity rikar Institute for Defence Studies and
and formulation of the preliminary activity in the last untouched frontier for India. The availability of REEs is Analyses, New Delhi.
assessment report. As per the report, of this planet. The oceans are the crucial for India as it aspires to take Views expressed are of the author and
prospects exist for exploitation of largest habitat of life, numerous of centre-stage in manufacturing of do not necessarily reflect the views of
36 GW and 35GW of offshore wind them being unknown and yet to be strategic defence systems, semicon- the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
energy off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu discovered. ductors and clean energy systems. Government of India.
respectively. The deep seabed minerals explo- Presently, India’s requirement of
Proactive actions have been ration and exploitation in ‘the Area’ REEs is met mostly through imports. The full version of this article first ap-
taken further and the ministry has defined as the seabed and subsoil be- India therefore must explore options peared in the Comments section of the
initiated steps such as issuance of yond the national jurisdiction limits, to harness its land-based sources and website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
Strategy Paper for offshore wind is regulated by the International Sea- collaborate with like-minded partner rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
development which envisages three bed Authority (ISA). ISA is an au- countries to meet the growing de- Analyses, New Delhi on October 4, 2023

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