Advancing Deep Sea Mining Plans International Approval Pending
A Canadian company is aiming to start production in the Pacific Ocean in 2025 – but the plan comes with fierce opposition. No agreement over licencing deep sea mining has been made and 21 countries have called for the process to be halted.
Poly-metallic nodules are essential to greentech and renewable energy
The Metals Company, a Canadian firm, has set its sights on mining minerals from the deep sea bed, despite failing to obtain international permission during a recent meeting. The ocean floor contains valuable “poly-metallic nodules” that house crucial elements like nickel and copper, essential for greentech and renewable energy applications. However, this ambitious mining endeavor has ignited a heated debate due to its potential ecological impact on the largely untouched deep sea ecosystems. As demand for these valuable resources grows with the rise of electric cars, batteries, and turbines, the company’s plans have raised questions about balancing environmental preservation with the pursuit of technological progress.
The Promise of Deep Sea Nodules:
Poly-metallic nodules found on the ocean floor are mineral-rich deposits containing vital elements such as nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt. These elements play a crucial role in supporting our electrified future, powering essential technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. The Metals Company has been conducting explorations between Mexico and Hawaii, collecting nodules from depths of around 4,000 meters.
Mining Plans and Potential Impact:
The company aims to secure a mining license next year, with commercial production potentially starting in 2025. Their proposed method involves using a tracked vehicle to wash the nodules off the sea bed before suctioning them up a pipe to a vessel above. While The Metals Company acknowledges there will be some ecological impact, they argue that it will be less harmful than land-based mining of similar metals, much of which originates from environmentally sensitive regions like the rainforests of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Critics, however, express deep reservations about the ecological consequences of deep sea mining. The ocean’s abyssal plain remains one of the few pristine ecosystems on Earth, with ongoing discoveries of unique and diverse marine life. Environmentalists fear that mining operations will disrupt and destroy these habitats, leading to significant biodiversity loss. The International Seabed Authority’s recent meeting failed to reach an agreement on licensing deep sea mining, with 21 countries calling for either a temporary or permanent halt.
Backing from Environmental Advocates and Major Corporations:
Leading environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, advocate for the preservation of untouched ecosystems, urging a cautious approach to deep sea mining. They highlight the potential for disturbing impacts on marine life, sediment clouds, and water pollution throughout the water column. Notably, major companies like Volkswagen, Volvo, Samsung, and Google have expressed support for a moratorium on seabed extraction and have vowed not to purchase these metals if sourced from deep sea mining.
Finding the Balance:
The pursuit of valuable resources from the deep sea bed raises significant ethical and environmental questions. While The Metals Company emphasizes mining in areas with minimal existing life, critics stress the importance of preserving untouched ecosystems. Striking a balance between technological progress and ecological preservation remains a daunting challenge. As the demand for greentech minerals rises, the delicate task of safeguarding our planet’s deep sea environments becomes increasingly paramount.
The Metals Company’s ambitious plans for deep sea mining have sparked a contentious debate on the environmental impact of extracting valuable poly-metallic nodules from the ocean floor. With the world’s ecosystems facing unprecedented threats, environmentalists, global corporations, and regulatory bodies grapple with the need to preserve untouched habitats while catering to the growing demands of our electrified future. As discussions continue, the balance between technological advancements and responsible resource extraction remains a complex and pressing issue for the global community.
