The Earth Sciences Ministry will implement Deep Ocean Mission at a total budget of 4077 crore rupees in the five years.
- This information was given by Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
- Dr. Singh said, preliminary estimates indicate that 380 million metric tonnes of polymetallic nodules comprising Copper, Nickel, Cobalt and Manganese are available in Central Indian Ocean Basin.
- The estimated value of these metals is about 110 billion US dollars.
- The polymetallic sulphides are expected to contain rare earth minerals including gold and silver.
- The Minister said, private institutions will be included for development of technologies for the mission to explore possibilities of mining in the ocean.
