In July 2021, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) achieved a significant milestone by conducting the world’s deepest underwater trials of a mining machine. The team embarked on a challenging voyage aboard the research vessel ORV Sagar Nidhi, covering approximately 3,000 kilometers to reach the test site. During this mission, they successfully deployed an 8-tonne crawler to a depth of 5,270 meters in the Indian Ocean, aiming to harvest polymetallic nodules from the seabed.
This pioneering effort underscores India’s commitment to advancing deep-sea mining technologies. The successful deployment of the mining machine at such unprecedented depths demonstrates the nation’s growing expertise in ocean resource exploration. The collected polymetallic nodules are rich in metals like nickel, copper, and cobalt, which are essential for various industries, including electronics and renewable energy sectors.
Following this achievement, NIOT has continued to enhance its deep-sea mining capabilities. In October 2024, the institute conducted an exploratory mining trial in the Andaman Sea, utilizing the Varaha-3 machine to collect polymetallic nodules from the seabed. This trial builds upon previous successes and reflects India’s ongoing efforts to develop sustainable and efficient deep-sea mining technologies.
