Alluring abyss – deep-sea mining‘s murky future
Extracting minerals from the seabed is a new industry in the making, one that may well soon be operational. However, the unknowns and potential risks are many.
Article information and share options
Hunger for critical mineral resources
Some hail deep-sea mining – the extraction of metals and minerals from the ocean floor (200 metres/656 feet below the surface) – as the solution to society’s insatiable quest for materials such as cobalt, graphite and lithium.2 These are essential components of batteries, solar panels and other low-carbon technologies. A recent report says the supply of key minerals for emissions-reduction technologies may run short by 2030.3
Hope that deep-sea mining (DSM) will fill the gap and contribute to carbon reduction is thus understandable. It should not be overlooked, however, that DSM can also negatively affect carbon sequestration and large deep-ocean carbon sinks. When sea beds are disturbed, they can release significant amounts of carbon stored in the sediment into the water.4 This undermines the transition benefits of DSM and may be a source of large liability risks.
Gaps in research and regulations
Some nations have applied for exploration permits from the UN’s International Seabed Authority (ISA). After failing to reach an agreement in 2023, the ISA seeks to finalise DSM regulations by 2025, but many issues remain unresolved.5 Either with explicit permits granted or without explicit prohibition, it could be that DSM projects are initiated soon.6 But voices from science and environmental protection sound the alarm about current state of affairs. The call from scientists, NGOs, private companies7 and also some nations8 is for a moratorium on the roll-out of DSM projects until confirmed scientific information is available to enable informed decision-making and the establishment of robust sustainability standards.9
Abyssal plains – a vast universe of biodiversity
Deep-sea grounds provide a habitat for a largely yet unknown but unique biodiversity that form the basis of the deep-sea food chains.10 Disruption to/destruction of biodiversity ecosystems caused by mining operations could have long-lasting or even irreversible impacts,11 with negative cascading effects on nature and related industries (fishing, ocean tourism etc.).12
In 2022, all nations agreed that 30% of the world’s oceans should be legally protected by 2030. As of today, only 3% has been so-designated.13 If DSM projects are approved for operation in the not-too-distant future, it could be that some ecologically important areas are destroyed before legal protection is in place.
Technical and economic challenges abound
The main focus area of DSM is on harvesting polymetallic nodules (clumps of minerals and metals) through remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Hydraulic pumps, bucket systems, large mobile infrastructures and supply chains are required to enable material flow. The complexity of operations and related emerging risks could come with many vulnerabilities, and potentially high costs.14 It is not yet clear that DSM will be scalable and commercially viable.15 Competition and the maturation of threat scenarios will depend on future regulation and international agreements. Viability will also be shaped by technological innovation and the development of alternatives to energy transition beyond the current critical minerals.
References
References
1 C. Roche and J. Feenan, J., Drivers for the development of deep sea minerals in the Pacific. In Deep Sea Minerals: Deep Sea Minerals and the Green Economy, ed. E. Baker, and Y. Beaudoin, Vol. 2, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2013.
2 DSM would thus also decrease the pressure for circular economy and recycling of critical metals
3 WEF/McKinsey, Securing minerals for the energy transition, White paper, Dec. 2023
4 E. Sala, et al., Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate, Nature 592(7854), 2021.
5 C. Pickens et al., From what-if to what-now: Status of the deep-sea mining regulations and underlying drivers for outstanding issues, Marine Policy 2024.
6 E. Stallard, Deep-sea mining: Norway approves controversial practice, BBC, 9 Jan. 2024; A. Giseburt, Japan prepares to mine its deep seabed by decade’s end, Mongabay, 21 March 2024.
7 Companies and Finance – Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (deep-sea-conservation.org)
8 A. Symons (AP), Deep sea mining: Here’s which countries oppse and support the controversial practice, euronews., 2 Aug. 2023.
9 Deep-Sea Mining Science Statement (seabedminingsciencestatement.org); International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Deep-sea mining – resource | IUCN
10 The Deep Sea Food Web | Natural World Facts; New research found unexpected biodiversity even within nodules: Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Unexpexted biodiversity on the ocean floor, 24 Jan. 2024.
11 E. Simon-Lledó et al., Biological effects 26 years after simulated deep-sea mining, Scientific Reports 2019 9(1).
12 Nature editorial, Norway’s approval of sea-bed mining undermines efforts to protect the ocean, Nature, 16 Jan. 2024.
13 COP15: Nations Adopt Four Goals, 23 Targets for 2030 In Landmark UN Biodiversity Agreement | Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd.int); K. McVeigh, High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN, Guardian, 5 March 2023.
14 For potential risk accumulation from and for DSM in connection with other infrastructures and services in coastal regions “No room left – competition for space generates infrastructure accumulation risks” in this Sonar report.
15 S. Meredith, Deep-sea mining ‘seems to be inevitable,’ UN regulator says, as fight for critical minerals heats up, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2024.
