The Race to Mine Critical Minerals From the Deep Ocean Floor Is Accelerating With 31 Active Initiatives
Companies and governments are pursuing copper, manganese, cobalt and nickel nodules sitting 13,000 feet below the Pacific
The Metals Company, a Canadian firm, conducted a successful pilot run in 2022 using a 70-ton subsea harvester that trundled along the ocean floor on caterpillar tracks, sucking up mineral-rich nodules. The company is now seeking approval to deploy similar machines commercially across 65,000 square kilometres of seabed, targeting extraction of over 600 million metric tons of nodules.
The 31 active initiatives span companies, governments and state-owned enterprises. China, India and the Republic of Nauru are among those involved, collecting nodules for analysis and testing mining equipment in preparation for commercial operations.
The minerals at stake are critical for modern technology. Cobalt and nickel are essential for electric vehicle batteries, copper underpins electrical infrastructure, and manganese is used in steel production. With land-based deposits becoming harder and more expensive to access, the ocean floor represents a vast untapped reserve.
However, the push has drawn fierce opposition from environmental groups who warn that deep-sea ecosystems are poorly understood and could suffer irreversible damage. The International Seabed Authority has been debating regulations for years without reaching consensus, creating uncertainty for companies that want to move ahead.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Deep-sea mining could reshape global supply chains for critical minerals needed in batteries, electronics and renewable energy infrastructure. The scale of resources involved is enormous.
Background
Polymetallic nodules form over millions of years on the abyssal plains. They were first discovered in the 1870s but commercial extraction was not feasible until recent advances in robotics and autonomous systems.
Key Perspectives
Proponents argue deep-sea mining is less destructive than land mining and essential for the energy transition. Critics warn of catastrophic damage to ecosystems we barely understand, including unique species found nowhere else.
What to Watch
The International Seabed Authority's decision on commercial mining regulations. The Metals Company's push for approval could set precedents for the entire industry.