GSI’s Offshore Exploration Workshop Aims to Propel India’s Mineral Sector

Mangalore: The Marine and Coastal Survey Division (MCSD) of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) concluded its groundbreaking workshop, “Offshore Exploration: Synergies and Opportunities (OESO),” today in Mangalore. The workshop marked a collaborative initiative to advance offshore exploration in India, bringing together diverse stakeholders from governmental bodies, research institutions, academia, and industry players.

The workshop was inaugurated by Shri V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India. Shri Rao commended the GSI for fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the offshore domain by bringing together experts and stakeholders. He highlighted the significant steps taken by GSI in handing over 35 offshore mineral blocks for auction to the Government of India, with 24 more in the pipeline. To ensure the success of this initiative, amendments in the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002, are being worked on by the Ministry of Mines.

Shri. Kantha Rao informed the gathering that the auction process for offshore blocks is expected to commence in the next 2-3 months, with the Ministry of Mines developing processes, procedures, norms, and SOPs to facilitate exploration and exploitation post-auction.

In his concluding remarks, Shri Rao emphasized the vast geological and offshore data available through GSI’s portals and urged institutions to share their data repositories for collaborative use. He called for collective efforts from GSI, academia, scientific institutions, PSUs, and others in the offshore domain to collaborate and support the industry’s exploration and exploitation endeavors for the country’s benefit.

Shri Janardan Prasad, DG, GSI, highlighted the workshop’s significance as India embarks on harnessing offshore mineral resources for rapid economic development. GSI has been engaged in offshore exploration since the 1970s, earmarking various blocks for exploration. The workshop focused on streamlining private sector participation in offshore exploration activities, with discussions on amendments to relevant acts and draft guidelines for private exploration agencies.

Technical sessions covered diverse topics, including GSI’s offshore activities, government initiatives, collaborative frameworks, and sustainable practices. Leading experts from MoES, NIO, NCPOR, ONGC, NIOT, IREL (India) Ltd., and DGH presented insights into data acquisition, environmental considerations, and challenges in offshore exploration. The workshop served as a platform for fruitful discussions and laid the groundwork for effective collaboration, information sharing, and technical expertise exchange in India’s offshore exploration sector.