The Metals Company has taken a significant step towards commercial mining of battery materials on the ocean floor, announcing today that it has submitted an application for a permit to the Trump administration. The company has been pursuing this goal for several years.
This initiative reflects a collaboration between the company and the Trump administration to bypass a broader international framework aimed at establishing regulations for deep sea mining, which has so far halted any attempts at commercial exploitation.
The decision to advance mining efforts prior to a comprehensive understanding of their environmental implications, or the establishment of necessary international guidelines, has sparked outrage among various governments and conservation organizations.
“An act of total disregard for international law”
Greenpeace International senior campaigner Louisa Casson criticized the permit application, stating in a press release that it will be remembered as “an act of total disregard for international law and scientific consensus.” Casson urged governments globally to protect international standards against unregulated deep sea mining activities.
Just last week, Trump signed an executive order aimed at expediting deep sea mining, framing it as a strategy to address China’s influence over critical mineral supply chains. The administration asserts its authority to grant mining permits under the 1980 US Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, citing the lack of US ratification of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This Convention, recognized by over 160 nations, has led to the establishment of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which is in the process of formulating deep sea mining regulations.
A representative from the Chinese foreign ministry stated that the executive order “violates international law and harms the overall interests of the international community,” according to a report from the BBC.
The Metals Company’s initiative was initially backed by the government of Nauru, which in 2021 triggered a push for international regulations on deep-sea mining. However, the ISA has not yet completed the rules, missing a significant 2023 deadline due to disagreements over key issues, such as accountability for potential environmental damages. There remains considerable uncertainty about the ecological ramifications of mining on the ocean floor, as scientists and environmental activists caution that a thorough understanding of these habitats is still developing.
Research indicates that the Moon’s surface is better mapped than the Earth’s seafloor, where new species are continuously being discovered. Concerns are prevalent regarding the potential long-term impacts of mining on marine ecosystems and coastal populations. More than 30 countries, including Canada and Mexico, have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until international regulations are in place.
Despite the ongoing discussions, The Metals Company is pressing forward and has made an application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for permission to extract resources from a substantial area of seafloor in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, located about 1,300 nautical miles south of San Diego. Additionally, the company has submitted requests for two further exploration licenses. The intended mining site is subject to ISA regulation due to its international status.
The Clarion Clipperton Zone is rich in polymetallic nodules containing vital resources such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, essential for rechargeable batteries and classified as critical minerals by the US government. Trump’s administration has made extensive claims about securing critical mineral resources, including controversial proposals such as annexing Greenland.
During a House Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing, Gerard Barron, the chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, noted that Trump was presented with a nodule similar to those being targeted for mining. He described the mineral resources as a “shovel-ready path” for the US to access essential materials for energy and defense.
The Metals Company claims to have invested over $500 million in preparation for this moment, estimating the potential recovery of substantial quantities of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese from the Clarion Clipperton Zone. The company argues that undersea mining poses less environmental risk than land-based mining and has distanced itself from a controversial study suggesting deep sea activities might contribute to “dark oxygen” phenomena.
In opposition, critics advocate for alternative approaches to reduce dependency on resources extracted from the seabed. Several electric vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla, are actively exploring ways to use fewer minerals like nickel and cobalt in their battery production. Estimates suggest that by 2050, around half of the cobalt and nickel requirements for US electric vehicles could be fulfilled through recycling initiatives.
