Ashwani Kumar announces plans for deep sea exploration

"We have the capability to mine the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 metres using our ship 'Sagar Nidhi'. We are inducting two more ships -- one acquired from a Korean shipyard and one built at Surat to augment our capabilities," Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar told reporters here.

He said India was not looking at exploring the ocean bed for commercial profits but with a strategic purpose.

"Countries like China have taken to deep sea mining with a strategic purpose. They are maintaining their presence in the high seas by claiming to undertake deep sea mining," Kumar said.

The minister, who chaired a meeting of top officials to review the science sector, said that India can maintain a strategic presence in the areas adjoining its exclusive economic zones if it exploited its deep sea mining capabilities.

Kumar said moves were also afoot to enhance the sea mining capabilities by refurbishing an old research vessel 'Sagar Kanya'.

Rare earth minerals are required for creation of a large variety of electronic technologies including lithium car batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, flat-screen television, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and military components such as missile guidance systems. (MORE)