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Within days of President Trump issuing an executive order to expedite deep-sea mining, the U.S. administration received its initial permit application from the Metals Company, a leading advocate for this nascent industry.
In this move, the administration envisions harvesting vital minerals such as cobalt and nickel from the Pacific Ocean floor.
These precious resources are encapsulated in potato-sized nodules scattered across the frozen, inky depths of the ocean, approximately 2.5 miles beneath the surface.
The Controversial Hearing: A Showdown Over Seabed Mining
On Tuesday, Gerard Barron, CEO of the Metals Company, attended an acrimonious hearing before the House Natural Resources Committee in Washington. He described President Trump’s action as the “start of the race” to acquire indispensable minerals from the ocean floor.
Bipartisan Divisions Over Environmental Concerns
The committee witnessed a heated debate between Republican and Democratic members concerning the environmental implications of seabed mining.
The Trump administration has expressed willingness to grant mining permits in U.S. territorial waters and in international waters.
Global Reaction to U.S. Plans
Several nations condemned the United States for bypassing international law. The U.S. aims to permit seabed mining in areas governed by the International Seabed Authority, an independent entity overseeing mineral exploration in the global sea.
The Current State of Deep-Sea Mining
To date, no commercial-scale deep-sea mining operations have commenced.
Initial reactions from U.S. lawmakers reflected bipartisan disagreements over Mr. Trump’s announcement.
Democratic Criticism and Caution
On the opposing front, Representative Jared Huffman of California and other Democrats condemned the administration’s initiative. They raised concerns about the commercial viability and potential environmental consequences of seabed mining. Inquiries were raised about the rationale behind extracting cobalt and nickel, given the electric-vehicle sector’s move toward alternative battery technologies.
Representative Maxine E. Dexter (D-Ore.) emphasized the industry’s inflated expectations, highlighting the volatility of global mineral markets. The committee heard that The Metals Company purports that seabed mining would create new jobs and break China’s control over essential mineral supply chains.
Republican Support Amid Regulatory Standoff
The Metals Company claims to have conducted extensive, ten-year environmental studies. Meanwhile, the Trump order was issued after years of regulatory delays at the International Seabed Authority, which is struggling to set rules for seabed mining.
Mr. Barron accused the authority of deliberately obstructing the progress of seabed mining.
He cited a nodule presented to Mr. Trump, adding that it currently rests on the president’s Ova desk.
Mineral Riches and Global Dependency
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a section of the Eastern Pacific, known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, contains vast deposits of nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Representative Paul Gosar (R-Az.), the committee’s chair, emphasized the need to circumvent China’s dominance over global mineral supply chains.
A Testimony from Mechanical Engineering Expert
The committee also heard from Thomas Peacock, a mechanical engineering professor at MIT. His research focuses on the ecological impact of seabed mining.
Uncertain Environmental Impacts
Dr. Peacock acknowledged the potential to discover hundreds of unknown species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and advised keeping some areas off limits to mining.
He dismissed some worst-case scenarios, portraying the risks posed by seabed mining as not as severe.
The second deep-sea mining CEO emphasized different underwater technologies designed to collect nodules.
Robotic Solutions
The Impossible Metals CEO outlined the use of advanced robots to collect nautical nodules without causing extensive deep-sea damage.
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