Govt set to organise roadshow on offshore mineral block auction at Porbandar

The government is set to organise a roadshow at Porbandar, Gujarat on Saturday to stress on the sale of offshore mineral blocks. This initiative marks a step towards unlocking the vast undersea mineral wealth within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The event will be chaired by mines secretary V L Kantha Rao and will be attended by several other dignitaries and industry leaders, the mines ministry said in a statement.

Prominent companies from the mining, cement, and infrastructure sectors are likely to participate in the event.


The roadshow will feature key presentations by SBICAPS, MSTC, and GSI.

SBICAPS will outline the auction process, including timelines, tender conditions, and participation requisites. MSTC will demonstrate the advanced e-auction platform, ensuring seamless and transparent bidding.

The Geological Survey of India will deliver a technical presentation on the mineral potential of the offshore blocks, with particular emphasis on the three blocks identified off Gujarat's coastline.

These lime-mud-rich blocks present significant opportunities for the cement and construction sectors in the state.

To harness the country's offshore mineral wealth, the mines ministry launched its first-ever auction of offshore critical mineral blocks last month.

The auction includes 13 blocks located across the Arabian Sea and the Andaman Sea. These comprise three blocks of construction sand in Kollam, Kerala; three blocks of lime mud in Porbandar, Gujarat; and seven blocks of polymetallic nodules and crusts near Great Nicobar Island.