Piloting of deep sea mining by the Metals Company has been given the green light by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
This follows the ISA’s review of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental monitoring and management plan (EMMP) submitted by its subsidiary, Nauru Ocean Resources.
Collection of some 3,600 polymetallic nodules, which will be extracted from the seafloor and brought to the surface production vessel, Hidden Gem for testing, will start almost immediately.
The CEO and Chairman of the Metals Company, Gerard Barron says, “We have a couple of exciting and, no doubt, challenging months ahead of us. “The environmental and operational data and insights from these trials will be an important step in ensuring the safe and efficient collection of polymetallic nodules to supply critical battery materials for the clean energy transition.”
The work will be around the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, which spans 4.5 million square kilometers between Hawaii and Mexico.
The ISA’s green light could eventually mean a US$75 million ocean exploration project for Nauru, a country that long ago exhausted its phosphate supplies.
Last month Nauru’s Permanent Representative to the ISA, Margo Deiye said: “Our vision is that the recovery of polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor will provide a critical mix in the metals supply chain, thus aiding global transition to clean renewable energy sources as well as creating the foundation for a circular economy. The sustainable use of our oceans includes the responsible recovery and extraction of critical metals housed in polymetallic nodules.”
She continued: “Let us continue to work collectively and constructively to finalise a world-class ISA mining code. We have a window of opportunity to support the development of a sector that we consider has the real potential to help accelerate our energy transition to realise financial and other economic benefits for the international community as a whole, flowing from the principle of the common heritage of mankind, to contribute to a sustainable development agenda and a sector that is subject to a unique and robust oversight mechanism through ISA and sponsoring states.”
However, deep sea mining (DSM) continues to divide Pacific Island nations. While Cook Islands and Kiribati are also interested in the possibility of seabed mining as a future income earner, other states are opposed to moving too quickly.
At the United Nations General Assembly this month, Federated States of Micronesia President, David Panuelo raised the issue and concerns.
“It is the view of Micronesia that deep seabed mining in the international seabed area should not occur until the Precautionary Principle, Ecosystem Approach, and the Polluter Pays Principle have been implemented. In the international seabed Area, no such implementation can take place in the absence of the finalisation of a robust, responsible, and comprehensive set of exploitation regulations by the International Seabed Authority. To do otherwise will be a dereliction of our duty to protect and preserve the marine environment and respect the common heritage of mankind.”
Recently, French Polynesia’s Council for the Economy, Social, Environment and Culture voted for a draft opinion for a temporary ban on seabed mining projects. Minister for Marine Resources, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, told Tahiti Nui TV: “We need to convince our cousins of the Pacific to stop this craziness.”
In February, the Cook Islands issued three exploration licences to CIC, CSR and Moana Minerals respectively, after what the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) called “a rigorous 16-month licensing process.”
The SBMA says: “We are committed to sustainably and responsibly developing our SBM sector for the benefit of our Cook Islands people. In line with the precautionary approach, any future decision on whether or not we will allow harvesting to occur needs to be scientifically based.
“To achieve this, we need more data and information about the nature of our mineral resource and the existing marine environment so that we can better understand and address the potential environmental impacts and likely commercial viability. This understanding can only be obtained through exploration research work, which is why the Exploration Phase is important.”
Civil society organisations have been at the forefront of opposition to deep sea mining.
Joey Tau, Deputy Coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), who attended an ISA meeting in July, says: “We stand at a precipitous moment in history, which demands great political leadership beyond the sovereign right of individual nation states to collectively govern our oceans. It is our hope that the global community will share in our vision of common stewardship and responsibilities for our oceans and support the growing call for a halt, a pause, and even for an outright ban on deep sea mining from citizens, faith-based leaders, civil society members, scientists and a growing number of political leaders including from our very own blue continent.”
Executive Director at Fiji Council of Social Services, Vani Catanasiga said they are concerned about the implications of the ISA decision on food security and ocean sustainability.
She commended Pacific Island governments that are holding the line against deep sea mining, “even as they face unprecedented challenges after the losses copped by economies during the pandemic and the ongoing impacts of climate change on Pacific communities. The Fijian govt for example and their moratorium on seabed mining is one. FCOSS will continue therefore to stand in solidarity with her peers across the region whose governments have begun considering DSM as a development option, to advocate on the risks and dangers that this poses to the lives and long term wellbeing of all Pacific communities.”
The Metals Company says the trial is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of this year.
