As nations gather to negotiate deep-sea mining regulations, opposition grows

KINGSTON (STAIT TIMES) – The United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA) will meet on Monday to consider new rules that would allow companies to extract minerals from the seafloor, despite growing concerns about economic and environmental risks.

Supporters say deep-sea mining would help boost the supply of raw materials such as cobalt and nickel needed for the global energy transition, but critics say it could damage ecosystems and disrupt migration routes.

As many as 27 countries have called for at least a temporary halt to related activities, and Hawaii last week became the fourth Pacific U.S. state to issue a full ban.

The 36-member ISA Council will meet in Kingston, Jamaica, until July 26 to negotiate the latest draft of the long-awaited “Mining Code,” which is intended to regulate the exploration and mining of “polymetallic nodules” and other seabed mineral deposits.

“I think it will be made very clear at this conference that there is still a long way to go,” said Pradeep Singh, an expert on ocean governance at Germany’s Potsdam Institute. He said countries remained divided over the final text.

Singh said many people are concerned that the regulation was rushed through without proper review and want to slow the process.

While many are concerned about environmental risks, others are seeking clarity on how the benefits of deep-sea mining will ultimately be shared.

The initial impetus for the process of completing the mining code has come from the Pacific island nation of Nauru, which is expected to submit an application for a mining licence on behalf of Metals Canada (TMC) later this year, whether the code is complete or not.

“More and more countries are saying they are against it and we will not allow this to happen,” Singh said. “Those countries that have called for a moratorium are still committed to negotiating regulations, so it doesn’t mean they don’t want deep-sea mining.”

After the council meeting, the ISA’s 168-member assembly will also meet on July 29 to elect the secretary-general, with Brazil’s Leticia Carvalho set to run against current secretary-general Michael Lodge.

Nine countries, including Chile and France, will also call on the General Assembly to discuss specific policies to protect the marine environment while allowing mining. China blocked a similar proposal last year.

The TMC acknowledges that deep-sea mining will have environmental impacts, but that they are less destructive than terrestrial mining and that trade-offs need to be made to ensure transitional mineral supplies.

But Victor Vescovo, an American investor and deep-sea explorer, said that in addition to the environmental risks, no one has yet proven the economic and technical feasibility of operating heavy industrial machinery in the deep sea, especially as costs rise.

“It’s a bad business case, and it’s only going to get worse,” he said… PACNEWS

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