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Govt. notifies rules to regulate exploration and production of mineral resources

Kriti
Offshore Areas Mineral

On 31-12-2024, the Ministry of Mines notified the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024 to ensure systematic development of mineral deposits, implementation of safety measures and protection of marine environment. The provisions came into force on 31-12-2024.

Key Points:

  1. These rules are governed by the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.

  2. Any reference to Indian Bureau of Mines (‘IBM’) will be deemed as reference to the Directorate

  3. Decision regarding approval and modification of an exploration plan will be made by the Controller General or an officer of IBM.

  4. Any selected bidder will have to submit an exploration plan to the Controller General/ Regional Controller within a period of 90 days from the letter of intent indicating the manner in which he proposes to carry out exploration operations in area covered under the composite license.

  5. The exploration plan should include the following:

    • particulars of the license area in latitudes and longitudes;

    • scale of the plan and the area of geological mapping;

    • details of proposed exploration programme;

    • a tentative timeline of exploration operations and yearly plan, including milestones for exploration operations;

    • the particulars of the vessels, implements, installations, engines, machines and instruments to be used.

  6. Qualifications and experience required by person preparing/ modifying an exploration plan:

    • Post graduate degree in Geology/ Applied Geology/ Geophysics/ Marine Geology/ any equivalent qualification granted by university established/ incorporated by Central/ Provincial/ State Act which includes institutions recognized by University Grants Commission/ any University outside India and recognized by Government of India.

    • Professional experience of 5 years of working in a supervisory capacity in the field of mineral exploration.

  7. Controller General will take decisions with respect to approval/ review and modification of a production plan with respect to final mine closure plan.

  8. The production plan should include the following:

    • the plan of the lease area showing the nature and extent of the mineralized area, spots where the production operations are proposed to be carried out based on the data gathered by the applicant or any other person;

    • details of the geology and lithology of the lease area including mineral resources and reserves of the area;

    • details of proposed exploration and production programme;

    • details of the mechanism of measurement or weighment of extracted minerals, computation of royalty, the point of discharge from the lease area and port of unloading or discharge in India, at which the minerals shall be brought, if any;

    • the details of mode of production operation indicating method of production, excavation, drilling, dredging, handling of waste and mineral rejects, use of mineral and beneficiation of minerals, site-services, employment-potential;

    • a tentative schedule of production operations and plan for production operations from year to year for five years;

    • a tentative estimate about accretion of mine waste and its manner and mode of disposal and confinement;

    • manner of mineral processing and mineral upgradation, if any, including mode of tailing disposal;

    • a progressive mine closure plan;

    • environment management plan indicating baseline information, impact assessment and mitigation measures.

  9. General requirements about maps, sections and profiles:

    • show the name of the mine and of the holder of the production lease and the purpose for which the map, section or profile is prepared;

    • show the true north or the magnetic meridian and the date of observation;

    • show a scale of the map at least 25 centimeters long and suitably sub-divided;

  10. Safety measures to be taken:

    • Establishment of no-mining barrier zone;

    • Safety in respect of vessels;

    • Compliance with laws, customs and international treaties;

    • Safety of personnel;

    • Emergency preparedness and safety plan

  11. Marine environment should be protected by:

    • Sustainable mining;

    • Precaution against turbidity and sedimentation;

    • Precaution against air pollution;

    • Systematic disposal of toxic solid and liquid waste;

    • Precaution against noise;

    • Permissible limits and standards;

    • Protection of marine environment, flora and fauna;

    • Precaution against damage to object of archeological or historical nature;

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