(ET)
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is developing a deep-sea mining system to meet the nation’s growing mineral needs. Speaking at NIOT’s silver jubliee celebrations here, Naidu said that he has been informed that NIOT is working towards developing a deep-sea mining system and other technologies for harnessing resources from the ocean to meet India’s growing mineral needs and increase self-sufficiency in the near future.
“The development of technologies for the sustainable harvesting of living and non-living resources of the ocean is in line with the Blue Economy policy of the government of India and will empower the nation to be a leader in oceans, just like in space technology,” he said.Naidu said that NIOT is working on almost all aspects of the six priority pillars of Blue Economy — fisheries and aquaculture; renewable ocean energy; seaports and shipping; offshore hydrocarbons and seabed minerals; marine biotechnology, research; and development and tourism.According to Naidu, Blue Economy also includes intangible economic benefits which may not be marketed, such as carbon sequestration, coastal protection, cultural values and biodiversity.
