Lok Sabha Question No. 5272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Mining of Sea Sand Containing Rare Earth Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5272

ANSWERED ON 02/04/2025

## MINING OF SEA SAND CONTAINING RARE EARTH MINERALS

## 5272. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  of  Mines  obtained  permission  from  the  Atomic  Energy Department  for  engaging  private  agencies  to  mine  sea  sand  containing  rare  earth minerals and radioactive elements from the Kerala coastal region;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the permission order if it is granted;
- (c) whether the Department of Mines is competent to engage private agencies for mining of sea sand containing rare earth minerals and radioactive element without the prior consent and permission of Atomic Energy Department;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (e) whether the Department of Mines or Atomic Energy Department conducted any study or examination regarding the percentage of rare earth minerals and radioactive elements in offshore sand in Kollam coastal region; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) to (d)  The Central Government has launched the first tranche of auction of 13 offshore blocks on 28.11.2024 for grant of composite licence, i.e. exploration licence-cumproduction lease, in accordance with the Offshore Areas Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002. This includes three offshore blocks of construction sand off the coast of Kerala beyond the territorial waters.

As  per  Rule  5(2)  of  the  Offshore  Areas  Operating  Right  Rules,  2024,  prior consultation  with  stakeholder  Ministries/Departments  including  Department  of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and Department of Fisheries is mandatory before notifying any offshore area for grant of operating right.

In the present case, the Ministry of Mines has consulted with the Department of Atomic  Energy  and  other  related  Ministries/Departments  before  notification  of blocks for auction and the no objection of all Ministries/Departments was received prior to notification for bloauction.

Further,  as  per  the  first  proviso  of  Section  6  of  the  OAMDR  Act,  2002,  no exploration licence, or composite licence, or production lease shall be granted for an area to any person other than the Government, a Government company or a corporation, in respect of any minerals specified in Part B of the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957). As per  the  GSI  report,  all  three  proposed  blocks  contains  silica  sand  only  and  no radioactive elements have been reported.

- (e) Yes.
- (f) Department of Atomic Energy has carried out preliminary investigations in offshore sands of Kollam Coast, wherein ~0.04 million tonne in-situ monazite (a phosphate mineral  containing  9-10%  Th-oxide  and  55-60%  Rare  Earth  Elements  Oxide) resource has been estimated.

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