India has issued its first offshore mining licence, granting the Jawaharlal Nehru Ports Authority (JNPA) a composite licence (CL) for a construction sand block. According to the  Ministry of Mines, this marks the first allocation of a mineral block for offshore exploration and production.

The block, allocated on a nomination basis at the request of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, will support land reclamation for the Vadhavan Greenfield Port in Palghar, Maharashtra. Valued at Rs 76,220 crore, the port project requires approx. 200 million cubic mtrs. of sand. The offshore block, located 50 km from the port site off the Daman coast, lies at a depth of 20-25 mtrs.

The move aims to reduce dependence on land-based construction sand, ensuring a steady supply for JNPA’s port development and operations. Once completed, Vadhavan Port will offer a total capacity of 298 million tonne per annum, including 23.2 million TEUs across nine container terminals.