The Metals Company's Deep-Sea Mining Plans Face Scrutiny and Environmental Concerns
The Metals Company (TMC), a company exploring deep-sea mining, has initiated a pre-application consultation with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and engaged with White House officials. This move has sparked concerns about potential disruptions to international agreements and environmental damage.
If the Trump administration approves a mining license for TMC, it could undermine the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which regulates deep-sea mining under the International Seabed Authority (ISA). This could set a dangerous precedent and threaten multilateralism, according to Duncan Currie, legal advisor to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.
TMC currently holds two ISA exploration licenses sponsored by Nauru, allowing them to prospect for cobalt, nickel, and other metals in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. However, commercial mining cannot begin until the ISA finalizes regulations, a process stalled for over a decade.
Despite the stalled regulations, TMC CEO Gerard Barron has indicated plans to submit an official application in June. This move has drawn criticism from environmental groups who argue that U.S. approval of mining in ISA-controlled waters would violate international law and set a dangerous precedent.
The ISA, which regulates 54% of the global seabed, has taken a pro-environmentalist stance under its new secretary-general, Leticia Carvalho. Additionally, 32 member states have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until ecological risks are better understood.
Greenpeace and other organizations have intensified their calls for a ban, citing concerns about the ISA's susceptibility to pressure from mining companies. Meanwhile, a recent study published in Nature magazine found lasting damage from a test mining operation conducted over 40 years ago in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. The study revealed that sediment disturbances persisted for decades, affecting larger organisms and hindering the recovery of many species.
The ISA's ongoing session in Kingston, Jamaica, is currently debating regulations governing the commercial exploitation of underwater mineral resources. This session coincides with the release of the aforementioned study, adding further weight to the concerns surrounding deep-sea mining's environmental impact.