(a) whether India is the first country to achieve the status of Pioneer Investor in the area of polymetallic nodules programmes;
(b) if so, the present status of the survey and exploration;
(c) since deep sea mining and polymetalic nodules programme was taken up the number of survey carried out the area explored and number of samples picked up; and
(d) the details of the analysis of sample?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Presently close grid survey for the retained area (75000 square km.) in selected blocks in Central Indian Ocean Basin(CIOB) are under progress to identify first generation mine site.
(c) Under the survey and exploration component of the polymetallic nodule programme 70 cruises were undertaken in the CIOB and about 11000 samplings were undertaken since the polymetallic Nodules programme was taken up.
(d) The average concentration of metals in polymetallic nodules found from analysis of samples indicate the presence of Copper(1.17%), Nickel(1.21%), Cobalt(0.13%), and Manganese(24%).