No Private Entry in Offshore Atomic Mineral Mining

06 Aug 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Mines has clarified that recent media reports claiming the Union Government has allowed private sector participation in the exploration and mining of atomic minerals such as uranium and thorium in offshore regions are misleading and factually incorrect.

The Offshore Areas Atomic Minerals Operating Rights Rules, 2025, notified on 14 July 2025, outline that only the Government, Government-owned companies, or corporations are eligible for operating rights related to atomic minerals. These rules do not permit private entities to undertake exploration or mining activities in this domain.

This framework is consistent with the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2023, which amended the original 2002 Act and came into effect on 17 August 2023. As per the first proviso to Section 6 of the amended Act, atomic minerals listed in Part B of the First Schedule to the MMDR Act, 1957, can only be explored and mined by the Government or its undertakings, and only under specific conditions and threshold values notified by the Centre.

Section 35 of the OAMDR Act, 2002 empowers the Central Government to formulate rules for the Act’s implementation. The 2025 rules were framed in consultation with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the nodal authority for regulating atomic minerals.

The Ministry stressed that atomic mineral exploration and mining remains strictly regulated due to national security and strategic concerns. It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and adherence to the legislative framework governing atomic minerals in India.

Infrastructure Energy

30 Oct 2025

Queensland, Australia Backs METS Delegation for India’s Flagship Mining Expo – IME 2025

Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) — the Queensland Government’s global business agency — is leading a high-level delegation of mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies to the International Mining, Equipment & Minerals Exhibition (IME) 2025, being held in Kolkata from October 30 to November 2.The delegation highlights Queensland, Australia’s world-class mining expertise across digital innovation, mine safety, critical-minerals technology, and sustainable mining solutions — aligning with India’s rapid transformation of its mining and resources sector to supp..

ABB India Expands Local Production with New Line for Energy-Efficient Drives

ABB India has announced the expansion of its local manufacturing footprint with the launch of a new production line for variable speed drive (VSD) modules at its Peenya facility in Bengaluru. The new line enhances ABB’s local production capacity for drives by around 25 per cent, supporting the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.Equipped with state-of-the-art automation and digital monitoring technologies, the new line is designed to meet the rising demand for energy-efficient and high-performance drives across industries such as buildings, da..

Aimtron Secures International IoT Order Worth $3.9 Million

Aimtron Electronics, one of India’s fastest-growing Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) companies, has announced that it has secured a major international IoT order worth $3.946 million (approximately Rs 340.69 million) from a leading global client. The contract involves the manufacture and export of 200,000 IoT devices over the next 12 to 15 months.This order marks a significant milestone in Aimtron’s global expansion, underscoring its capability to deliver complete box-build IoT solutions that meet international quality standards. The deal is expected to strengthen the com..