Factbox: The main players in the push towards deep-sea mining

South China Holdings

14/04/2023 12:00

April 14 (Reuters) - Opponents of deep-sea mining are
mobilising to stop a United Nations body from issuing the first
licenses for the controversial practice later this year, saying
not enough is known about the seabed environment or the impact
that mining could have on marine ecosystems. 
    At stake is the development of potentially vast amounts of
mineral resources that could help drive the global transition to
clean energy, but environmental campaigners say it could lead to
catastrophic biodiversity losses. 
    Following is a list of the main players involved in the
debate about whether deep-sea mining should go ahead.    
    
    THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY
    The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an independent
intergovernmental body established under the authority of the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to
regulate mining activities on the ocean floor as well as protect
seabed ecosystems.  
    Critics say that its dual role as mining regulator and
custodian of the seabed environment is contradictory, and that
the body has been leaning too far in the direction of corporate
interests. They also say it lacks transparency and
accountability, claims it denies.
    ISA members are currently drawing up a "mining code" that
will allow mining activities in the deep sea to begin, but a
loophole in its rules could allow it to start approving
applications by as early as July.   
    
    THE METALS COMPANY 
    The Metals Company (TMC)  TMC.O  has been at the forefront
of efforts to begin deep sea mining in the Pacific Ocean region
known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone. It is partnering with the
Pacific states of Nauru, Tonga and Kiribati to explore for
deep-sea metals.  
    The Canada-based company has downplayed concerns about the
environmental impact of seabed mining, saying that the
collection of "loose-lying" polymetallic rock on the ocean floor
was far less destructive than conventional terrestrial mining.
It also says on its website that "difficult trade-offs must be
made if we are to meet metal demand for the clean energy
transition". 
    
    NAURU 
    The tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru is expected to be
the first to apply to the ISA to begin mining on behalf of TMC's
subsidiary, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. Nauru expressed its
intention to do so in 2021, triggering the so-called "two-year
rule" loophole, which meant that it could gain permission to
start exploitation activities this year even if the mining code
is not complete.  
    
    OTHER SPONSORING NATIONS
    As many as 31 exploration licences have already been issued
by the ISA, sponsored by a total of 14 nations. As well as
Nauru, Tonga and Kiribati, they also include China, Russia,
South Korea, India, Britain, France, Poland, Brazil, Japan,
Jamaica and Belgium. 
    
    CHINA  
    China is a major proponent of deep-sea mining, with three
entities currently holding exploration licenses issued by the
ISA, including the state-owned conglomerate Minmetals. 
    China's foreign ministry would not say whether the country
was prepared to submit its own application to mine, but told
Reuters in a statement that it "has always advocated a balanced
approach to deep-sea development and deep-sea environmental
protection." 
    
    THE OPPONENTS 
    As many as 14 countries have now called for a moratorium or
suspension of all mining activities, including France, Germany,
New Zealand, Costa Rica and Vanuatu. 
    The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, which consists of more
than 100 environmental groups (including Greenpeace, Friends of
the Earth and the Worldwide Fund for Nature) has also been
campaigning to stop deep-sea mining. 
    Greenpeace activists also confronted a British research ship
in the eastern Pacific last month to protest against a mining
expedition.  
    

 (Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Diane Craft)
 ((david.stanway@thomsonreuters.com; +86 21 2083 0066;))