Latest news with #DeepSeabedHardMineralResourcesAct
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘Act Responsibly For Humankind' – Palau President On Deep Sea Mining Order
Palau's president says the US order to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea., RNZ Pacific Journalist Palau's president says the US order to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) has since confirmed it will not apply for a mining license through the International Seabed Authority (ISA), instead opting to apply through US regulations. Surangel Whipps Jr. said the high seas belongs to the entire world so everyone must exercise caution. 'We should be responsible, and what we've asked for is a moratorium, or a temporary pause ….until you have the right information to make the most important informed decision,' Whipps told RNZ Pacific. Whipps said it's important for those with concerns to have an opportunity to speak to US President Donald Trump. 'Because it's about partnership. And I think a lot of times it's the lack of information and lack of sharing information. 'It's our job now as the Pacific to stand up and say, this direction could be detrimental to all of us that depend on the Pacific ocean and the ocean and we ask that you act responsibly for humankind and for the Pacific.' Trump's executive order states: 'It is the policy of the US to advance United States leadership in seabed mineral development.' The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was directed to, within 60 days, 'expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act'. It directs the US science and environmental agency to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in the US and international waters. The Metals Company has praised the US deepsea mining licencing pathway. In a press release, its chief executive Gerard Barron made direct reference to Trump's order, titled 'Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources'. He said he was heartened by its call 'for a joint assessment of a seabed benefit-sharing mechanism' and was certain that 'big ocean states' like Nauru would continue to play a leading role in the deep sea mining industry. There are divergent views on deep sea exploration and mining in the Pacific, with many nations, civil society groups, and even some governments advocating for a moratorium or outright ban. However, Tonga, Nauru, Kiribati and the Cook Islands have exploration contracts with mining representatives. Vanuatu's Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu told RNZ Pacific in 2023 that Vanuatu's position is for no deep sea mining at any point. 'We have a lot to think about in the Pacific. We are the region that is spearheading for seabed minerals,' he said. The Cook Islands has sought China's expertise in seabed mining through 'high-level' discussions on Prime Minister Mark Brown's February 2025 trip to China. Whipps said 'you have to give [The Metals Company] credit' that they have been able to get in there and convince Donald Trump that this is a good direction to go. But as the president of a nation with close ties to the US and Taiwan, and the host of the PIF Ocean's Commissioner, he has concerns. 'We don't know the impacts to the rest of what we have in the Pacific – which is for us in the Pacific, it's tuna [which] is our biggest resource,' Whipps said. 'How is that going to impact the food chain and all of that? 'Because we're talking about bringing, first of all, impacting the largest carbon sink that we have, which is the oceans, right? So we say our islands are sinking, but now we want to go and do something that helps our islands sink. 'That's not a good idea.'
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
'Act Responsibly For Humankind' - Palau President On Deep Sea Mining Order
Palau's president says the US order to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) has since confirmed it will not apply for a mining license through the International Seabed Authority (ISA), instead opting to apply through US regulations. Surangel Whipps Jr. said the high seas belongs to the entire world so everyone must exercise caution. "We should be responsible, and what we've asked for is a moratorium, or a temporary pause ....until you have the right information to make the most important informed decision," Whipps told RNZ Pacific. Whipps said it's important for those with concerns to have an opportunity to speak to US President Donald Trump. "Because it's about partnership. And I think a lot of times it's the lack of information and lack of sharing information. "It's our job now as the Pacific to stand up and say, this direction could be detrimental to all of us that depend on the Pacific ocean and the ocean and we ask that you act responsibly for humankind and for the Pacific." Trump's executive order states: "It is the policy of the US to advance United States leadership in seabed mineral development." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was directed to, within 60 days, "expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act". It directs the US science and environmental agency to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in the US and international waters. The Metals Company has praised the US deepsea mining licencing pathway. In a press release, its chief executive Gerard Barron made direct reference to Trump's order, titled 'Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources'. He said he was heartened by its call "for a joint assessment of a seabed benefit-sharing mechanism" and was certain that "big ocean states" like Nauru would continue to play a leading role in the deep sea mining industry. There are divergent views on deep sea exploration and mining in the Pacific, with many nations, civil society groups, and even some governments advocating for a moratorium or outright ban. However, Tonga, Nauru, Kiribati and the Cook Islands have exploration contracts with mining representatives. Vanuatu's Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu told RNZ Pacific in 2023 that Vanuatu's position is for no deep sea mining at any point. "We have a lot to think about in the Pacific. We are the region that is spearheading for seabed minerals," he said. The Cook Islands has sought China's expertise in seabed mining through "high-level" discussions on Prime Minister Mark Brown's February 2025 trip to China. Whipps said "you have to give [The Metals Company] credit" that they have been able to get in there and convince Donald Trump that this is a good direction to go. But as the president of a nation with close ties to the US and Taiwan, and the host of the PIF Ocean's Commissioner, he has concerns. "We don't know the impacts to the rest of what we have in the Pacific - which is for us in the Pacific, it's tuna [which] is our biggest resource," Whipps said. "How is that going to impact the food chain and all of that? "Because we're talking about bringing, first of all, impacting the largest carbon sink that we have, which is the oceans, right? So we say our islands are sinking, but now we want to go and do something that helps our islands sink. "That's not a good idea."
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Cook Islands environment group calls on govt to speak out against US Trump's deep seabed mining order
By Losirene Lacanivalu , Cook Islands News Hundreds of people peacefully rallied at sea in Rarotonga to protect the ocean from seabed activities in August 2024. Photo: Supplied / Ocean Ancestors Cook Islands' leading environmental lobby group is hoping that the Cook Islands government will speak out against the recent executive order from United States President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking seabed mining. Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) says the arrogance of US president Trump to think that he can break international law by authorising deep seabed mining in international waters is "astounding", and an action of a "bully." Trump signed the Unleashing America's offshore critical minerals and resources order late last month, directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow permitting for deep sea mining. The order states, "It is the policy of the US to advance United States leadership in seabed mineral development." NOAA has been directed to, within 60 days, "expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act." It directs the US science and environmental agency to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in the US and international waters. In addition, a Canadian mining company - The Metals Company has indicated that they have applied for a permit from Trump's administration to start commercially mining in international waters. The mining company had been unsuccessful in gaining a commercial mining licence through the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Te Ipukarea Society's technical director Kelvin Passfield told Cook Islands News , "The arrogance of Donald Trump to think that he can break international law by authorising deep seabed mining in international waters is astounding. "The United States cannot pick and choose which aspects of the United Nations Law of the Sea it will follow, and which ones it will ignore. This is the action of a bully." "It is reckless and completely dismissive of the international rule of law. At the moment we have 169 countries, plus the European Union, all recognising international law under the International Seabed Authority. "For one country to start making new international rules for themselves is a dangerous notion, especially if it leads to other States thinking they too can also breach international law with no consequences," he said. TIS president June Hosking says that the fact that a part of the Pacific (CCZ) was carved up and shared between nations all over the world is yet another example of 'blatantly disregarding or overriding indigenous rights'. "I can understand why something had to be done to protect the high seas from rogues having a 'free for all', but it should have been Pacific indigenous and first nations groups, within and bordering the Pacific, who decided what happened to the high seas. "That's the first nations groups, not for example, the USA as it is today." President Trump signs a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House on 17 April 2025 in Washington. Photo: AFP / Win MCNAMEE Hosking highlighted that at the March International Seabed Authority (ISA) assembly that she attended it was obvious that South American countries are worried. "Many have called for a moratorium. Portugal rightly pointed out that we were all there, at great cost, just for a commercial activity. The delegate said, 'We must ask ourselves how does this really benefit all of humankind?' Looking at The Metals Company's interests to commercially mine in international waters, Hosking said, "I couldn't help being annoyed that all this talk assumes mining will happen. "ISA was formed at a time when things were assumed about the deep sea e.g. it's just a desert down there, nothing was known for sure, we didn't speak of climate crisis, waste crisis and other crises now evident. "The ISA mandate is 'to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects that may arise from deep seabed related activities. "We know much more (but still not enough) to consider that effective protection of the marine environment may require it to be declared a 'no go zone', to be left untouched for the good of humankind," she added. Meanwhile, technical director Passfield also added, "The audacity of The Metals Company (TMC) to think they can flaunt international law in order to get an illegal mining licence from the United States to start seabed mining in international waters is a sad reflection of the morality of Gerard Barron and others in charge of TMC. "If the USA is allowed to authorise mining in international waters under a domestic US law, what is stopping any other country in the world from enacting legislation and doing the same? He said that while the Metals Company may be frustrated at the amount of time that the International Seabed Authority is taking to finalise mining rules for deep seabed mining, "we are sure they fully understand that this is for good reason. The potentially disastrous impacts of mining our deep ocean seabed need to be better understood, and this takes time." He said that technology and infrastructure to mine is not in place yet. "We need to take as much time as we need to ensure that if mining proceeds, it does not cause serious damage to our ocean. Their attempts to rush the process are selfish, greedy, and driven purely by a desire to profit at any cost to the environment. "We hope that the Cook Islands Government speaks out against this abuse of international law by the United States." Cook Islands News has reached out to the Office of the Prime Minister and Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) for comment.
The Market Online
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Market Online
The Metals Company makes first move to mine US seabed
A subsidiary of The Metals Company (NASDAQ:TMC), developer of the world's largest estimated resource of critical metals, has submitted pioneering applications to mine the United States seabed The company is targeting resources estimated at 15.5 million tons of nickel, 12.8 million tons of copper, 2 million tons of cobalt and 345 million tons of manganese The Metals Company explores for lower-impact critical metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules to supply the infrastructure, power generation, transmission and battery industries The Metals Company stock has given back over 67 per cent since inception in 2021 A subsidiary of The Metals Company (NASDAQ:TMC), developer of the world's largest estimated resource of critical metals, has submitted pioneering applications to mine the United States seabed. If successful, the company will receive a commercial recovery permit and two exploration licenses under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allowing it to capitalize on US President Trump's recent executive order to fast-track domestic critical mineral production. The commercial permit covers 25,160 square-kilometers, including areas encompassing The Metals Company's indicated and measured resources in the Clarion Clipperton Zone about 1,300 nautical miles south of San Diego. The exploration licenses cover an area of 199,895 square kilometers the company believes to contain SEC SK 1300-compliant resources of about 15.5 million tons of nickel, 12.8 million tons of copper, 2 million tons of cobalt and 345 million tons of manganese. According to Wednesday's news release, the applications are supported by 'over a decade of scientific research, environmental data collection and proven offshore engineering by the company and its partners,' laying a high-conviction foundation for deep-sea critical metals development. The company sees the DSHMRA supporting 'an emerging industrial ecosystem expected to mobilize tens of billions of dollars in private-sector investment across US shipbuilding, port infrastructure, minerals processing and manufacturing,' the release goes on to state. The NOAA's initial determinations on the company's exploration and commercial applications are expected within 30 days and 60 days of receipt, respectively. Leadership insights 'Today marks a major step forward—not just for subsidiary TMC USA, but for America's mineral independence and industrial resurgence,' Gerard Barron, The Metals Company's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. 'With these applications, we are offering the United States a shovel-ready path to new and abundant supplies of nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese—critical metals for energy, infrastructure and defense. After continuous delay at the international level, the United States now has a clear opportunity to reclaim its leadership role in the deep sea and set a global standard for responsible, science-based deep-seabed resource development.' 'We have invested over a half a billion dollars and have spent more than a decade preparing for this moment, investing in deep-sea science, engineering and technology to build the world's most advanced deep-sea minerals platform,' Barron added. 'With strong support from Washington and a stable, enforceable US regulatory pathway, we look forward to delivering the world's first commercial nodule project—responsibly, transparently and economically—and to helping power a new era of American industrial strength.' The Metals Company explores for lower-impact critical metals from seafloor polymetallic nodules to supply the infrastructure, power generation, transmission and battery industries, with the goal of making a net positive impact compared to conventional production methods. The Metals Company stock (NASDAQ:TMC) is down by 6.12 per cent trading at US$3.08 per share as of 11:02 am ET. The stock has given back over 67 per cent since inception in 2021. Join the discussion: Find out what everybody's saying about this seabed mining stock on The Metals Company Inc. Bullboard and check out Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here. (Top photo of The Metals Company's exploration vessel, the Maersk Launcher: The Metals Company)
Axios
28-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
UN group fires back over Trump's deep-sea mining plan
The U.N.-affiliated body that governs the seabed in international waters came out swinging — by diplo-speak standards — against White House efforts to spur deep-sea mineral mining. Why it matters: The International Seabed Authority's statement circulated Saturday is a fresh sign of geopolitical and legal conflict that could greet new commercial efforts outside its purview. Driving the news: " Any endeavor undertaken outside the recognized and consensual international framework, or in an attempt to circumvent international law, may incur legal, diplomatic, economic, security, financial and reputational risks," the group said. It adds that "circumventing" the ISA's regulatory authority would breach international law and "silence" the voices of poor and developing nations. The big picture: The ISA, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is tasked with overseeing deep-sea mineral harvesting in international waters. But long-delayed regulations have yet to be completed. The U.S. has never ratified the treaty but has historically participated as an observer. Deep-sea regions could hold major deposits of manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt bound up in nodules. But many scientists fear major damage to fragile ecosystems and species. Catch up quick: The weekend statement adds to criticism of President Trump's executive order last Thursday. China, a dominant player in mineral supply chains, called the U.S. move a violation of international law. The country holds five ISA exploration licenses. No country or company has begun commercial extraction of mineral-rich nodules. The other side: The White House order's section on international waters cites authority under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. It also envisions regulating exploration and extraction in U.S. waters under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. But the industry's greatest focus to date has been in remote international tracts. "Both of these laws require comprehensive environmental impact assessments and compliance with strong environmental protection standards," Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, tells the NYT. What we're watching: Center for Strategic and International Studies analysts have a lucid primer on the whole topic and White House moves.
