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Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Deep-Sea Mining: Deep-sea mining negotiators to meet under Donald Trump shadow
UNITED NATIONS: The International Seabed Authority (ISA) meets next week to continue debating rules for ocean floor mining in international waters, after the United States moved to unilaterally kick-start the controversial industry. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Jamaica-based body, created by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, has been working for over a decade on rules governing mineral extraction on the high seas. Nations are divided over the desire to exploit the ocean depths for nodules rich in metals needed for electric vehicles and other emerging technologies -- and worries about disrupting, or possibly decimating, fragile ecosystems. The United States, which is not a signatory to the UN convention or an ISA member, disrupted the painstaking process this year when President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for his government to speed up issuing permits for underwater mining, including in international waters. Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) jumped at the opportunity and in April filed the first US application for a deep-sea mining license, angering environmental groups and many nations. Against this backdrop, the ISA's 36-member executive council reconvenes Monday in Kingston for two more weeks of negotiations on a "mining code." "Our shared objective remains the completion of the negotiations" this year, Council President Duncan Muhumuza Laki wrote in a letter ahead of the meetings. The Ugandan diplomat said an additional session in the fall may be needed to meet a year-end deadline. Louise Casson of Greenpeace called the push to wrap up negotiations "both very unwise and unfeasible." Nations should not be "bullied" into rushing through rules after TMC's "incredibly controversial and rogue move," she told AFP. Leticia Carvalho, secretary-general of the full ISA, said that with the global body "on the cusp of finalizing" its rules, "it is imperative that we get it right." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "When I speak of the need for timely action, this should in no way be interpreted as a call for rushed or unconsidered decisions," the Brazilian oceanographer told AFP in an e-mail. Moratorium Members are deeply divided over how to proceed, with a growing number calling for at least a temporary moratorium on deep-sea mining. French President Emmanuel Macron opened the UN Ocean conference last month in Nice saying it would be "madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it and release irrecoverable carbon sinks -- when we know nothing about it." His country joined Chile, Costa Rica and Panama in a recent letter saying it is "clear" that the regulations "are not ready for adoption yet," and suggesting discussions on a new timeline. "We categorically disassociate ourselves from any suggestion or interpretation that the Council is bound, legally or politically, to adopt the regulations by the end of the year," the letter said. At the previous session in March, the ISA Council went through a debate on 55 of 107 proposed rules. Carvalho said, though some members "have expressed differing views on the desirability or timing of future mining activities, the overwhelming majority have remained committed to continuing the negotiations with good faith, diligence and unity, recognising the imperative of establishing a robust and science-based regulatory regime." A meeting of the full 169-member ISA is scheduled for July 21-25. The number of ISA members in favour of a precautionary pause to mining continues to grow -- from 12 in 2022 to 37 today, according to the NGO alliance Deep Sea Conservation Coalition -- but they are still far from the majority. At that meeting, Chile hopes to revive its bid to adopt "the protection and preservation of the marine environment" as a "general policy" for the body. The move is seen as a first step towards a moratorium.
National Observer
30-04-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Canadian company turns to Trump for the green light to mine international waters, bypassing a UN agency
A Canadian company announced Tuesday that its US subsidiary submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mine the seafloor, sparking outrage by bypassing a U.N. agency that regulates deep international waters. The Metals Company said it was seeking two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit, marking the first time a company applies to commercially mine the seabed. The filing is expected to spark a complex legal battle since the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority, a U.N. agency that regulates international deep-sea waters, has the power to authorize exploitation permits. 'Any commercial exploitation outside of national jurisdiction carried out without the authorization of ISA would constitute a violation of international law,' the authority said in late March after The Metals Company announced its intention to seek permission from the US government to start deep-sea mining in international waters. There are currently no regulations in place to oversee such mining as scientists warn that extracting minerals from vital ecosystems that help regulate climate change could cause permanent damage. Filing follows Trump directive The filing comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order that directs the Secretary of Commerce to expedite the review and issuance of exploration and commercial recovery permits, among other things. Canadian company turns to Trump for permission to mine international waters, bypassing a UN agency. #ISA #DeepSeaMining '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,' Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said in a statement. Environmentalists and activists decried the move, saying that ISA has the sole power to authorize exploitation permits. 'This unilateral American effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition,' said Ruth Ramos, Greenpeace's international senior campaigner. 'Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep-sea mining.' For years, members of the authority's council have debated how and if to allow deep-sea mining. So far, the authority has only issued exploration licenses, with most of the current exploratory activity concentrated in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which covers 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) between Hawaii and Mexico. At least 17 of 31 licenses have been issued for this zone, with exploration occurring at depths ranging from 13,000 to 19,000 feet (4,000 to 6,000 meters). UN convention ratified by dozens of countries but not US The International Seabed Authority was created in 1994 by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is ratified by more than 165 nations — but not the United States. The Metals Company has argued that the US seabed mining code would allow it to start operations in international waters, since it's not a member of the authority and therefore not bound by its rules. '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,' Barron said. US mining code is no guarantee of a mining permit But Emily Jeffers, senior attorney for the US-based nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, said it's not a foregone conclusion that the company will be given permission to mine under the US seabed mining code, which requires a full environmental analysis. 'This statute has been on the books for 45 years, and there's a reason why no other companies have used it to extract minerals from the seafloor,' she said in a phone interview. 'The science is clear that companies cannot satisfy the standard demanded by the statute. There's no way to do deep-sea mining without having a significant and catastrophic effect on the environment.' Jeffers said that if the Trump administration approves the permit, it would face legal challenges from environmental organizations. 'Not an experiment we should be conducting' In late March, the Vancouver-based company announced that it would seek permission from the U.S. to start deep-sea mining in international waters to extract minerals used in electric car batteries and other green technology. The announcement was made just hours before the council of the ISA met on the last day of a two-week conference focused on how and whether to allow such mining. Scientists have said that a rush to collect minerals that take millions of years to form could unleash noise, light and smothering dust storms deep in the Earth's oceans. 'Deep-sea mining has the potential to impact not just the seabed environment, but all of the life in between,' said Jeff Watters, external affairs vice president for the US-based nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. 'There are so many mysteries about this part of the ocean where we've just been able to scratch the surface.' He said deep-sea mining is 'not an experiment that we should be conducting.' Watters said in a phone interview that the area The Metals Company is seeking to explore is larger than the size of South Dakota and the extraction area larger than the size of Vermont. 'The size and scale is just huge,' he said. Companies say mining seafloor is cheaper, safer than land Mining companies have said that harvesting minerals from the seafloor instead of from land is cheaper and has less of an environmental impact. A spokesperson for the authority declined comment and referred to statements it made earlier this year. The authority has said that it has the sole legal mandate to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed. It noted that the international legal regime established by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea applies to all states, regardless of whether they are members or not. '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 authority said.
Global News
29-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
Canadian company asks U.S. for deep-sea mining permit, bypassing UN agency
A Canadian company announced Tuesday that its U.S. subsidiary submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mine the seafloor, sparking outrage by bypassing a U.N. agency that regulates deep international waters. The Metals Company, based in Vancouver, said it was seeking two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit, marking the first time a company applies to commercially mine the seabed. The filing is expected to spark a complex legal battle since the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority, a U.N. agency that regulates international deep-sea waters, has the power to authorize exploitation permits. 'Any commercial exploitation outside of national jurisdiction carried out without the authorization of ISA would constitute a violation of international law,' the authority said in late March after The Metals Company announced its intention to seek permission from the U.S. government to start deep-sea mining in international waters. Story continues below advertisement There are currently no regulations in place to oversee such mining as scientists warn that extracting minerals from vital ecosystems that help regulate climate change could cause permanent damage. 2:19 Demonstration over deep sea mining Filing follows Trump directive The filing comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order that directs the Secretary of Commerce to expedite the review and issuance of exploration and commercial recovery permits, among other things. Story continues below advertisement '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,' Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said in a statement. Environmentalists and activists decried the move, saying that ISA has the sole power to authorize exploitation permits. 'This unilateral American effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition,' said Ruth Ramos, Greenpeace's international senior campaigner. 'Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep-sea mining.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy For years, members of the authority's council have debated how and if to allow deep-sea mining. So far, the authority has only issued exploration licenses, with most of the current exploratory activity concentrated in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which covers 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) between Hawaii and Mexico. At least 17 of 31 licenses have been issued for this zone, with exploration occurring at depths ranging from 13,000 to 19,000 feet (4,000 to 6,000 meters). UN convention ratified by dozens of countries but not US The International Seabed Authority was created in 1994 by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is ratified by more than 165 nations — but not the United States. Story continues below advertisement The Metals Company has argued that the U.S. seabed mining code would allow it to start operations in international waters, since it's not a member of the authority and therefore not bound by its rules. '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,' Barron said. 0:42 Trump wants Canada's critical minerals, water: Singh U.S. mining code is no guarantee of a mining permit But Emily Jeffers, senior attorney for the U.S.-based nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, said it's not a foregone conclusion that the company will be given permission to mine under the U.S. seabed mining code, which requires a full environmental analysis. Story continues below advertisement 'This statute has been on the books for 45 years, and there's a reason why no other companies have used it to extract minerals from the seafloor,' she said in a phone interview. 'The science is clear that companies cannot satisfy the standard demanded by the statute. There's no way to do deep-sea mining without having a significant and catastrophic effect on the environment.' Jeffers said that if the Trump administration approves the permit, it would face legal challenges from environmental organizations. 'Not an experiment we should be conducting' In late March, the Vancouver-based company announced that it would seek permission from the U.S. to start deep-sea mining in international waters to extract minerals used in electric car batteries and other green technology. The announcement was made just hours before the council of the ISA met on the last day of a two-week conference focused on how and whether to allow such mining. Scientists have said that a rush to collect minerals that take millions of years to form could unleash noise, light and smothering dust storms deep in the Earth's oceans. Story continues below advertisement 'Deep-sea mining has the potential to impact not just the seabed environment, but all of the life in between,' said Jeff Watters, external affairs vice president for the U.S.-based nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. 'There are so many mysteries about this part of the ocean where we've just been able to scratch the surface.' 1:39 B.C. government to fast-track major resource projects and mines He said deep-sea mining is 'not an experiment that we should be conducting.' Watters said in a phone interview that the area The Metals Company is seeking to explore is larger than the size of South Dakota and the extraction area larger than the size of Vermont. 'The size and scale is just huge,' he said. Companies say mining seafloor is cheaper, safer than land Mining companies have said that harvesting minerals from the seafloor instead of from land is cheaper and has less of an environmental impact. Story continues below advertisement A spokesperson for the authority declined comment and referred to statements it made earlier this year. The authority has said that it has the sole legal mandate to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed. It noted that the international legal regime established by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea applies to all states, regardless of whether they are members or not. '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 authority said.
San Francisco Chronicle
29-04-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Canadian company turns to Trump for permission to mine international waters, bypassing a UN agency
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A Canadian company announced Tuesday that its U.S. subsidiary submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mine the seafloor, sparking outrage by bypassing a U.N. agency that regulates deep international waters. The Metals Company said it was seeking two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit, marking the first time a company applies to commercially mine the seabed. The filing is expected to spark a complex legal battle since the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority, a U.N. agency that regulates international deep-sea waters, has the power to authorize exploitation permits. 'Any commercial exploitation outside of national jurisdiction carried out without the authorization of ISA would constitute a violation of international law,' the authority said in late March after The Metals Company announced its intention to seek permission from the U.S. government to start deep-sea mining in international waters. There are currently no regulations in place to oversee such mining as scientists warn that extracting minerals from vital ecosystems that help regulate climate change could cause permanent damage. Filing follows Trump directive The filing comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order that directs the Secretary of Commerce to expedite the review and issuance of exploration and commercial recovery permits, among other things. '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,' Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said in a statement. Environmentalists and activists decried the move, saying that ISA has the sole power to authorize exploitation permits. 'This unilateral American effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition,' said Ruth Ramos, Greenpeace's international senior campaigner. 'Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and cooperation against rogue deep-sea mining.' For years, members of the authority's council have debated how and if to allow deep-sea mining. So far, the authority has only issued exploration licenses, with most of the current exploratory activity concentrated in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which covers 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers) between Hawaii and Mexico. At least 17 of 31 licenses have been issued for this zone, with exploration occurring at depths ranging from 13,000 to 19,000 feet (4,000 to 6,000 meters). UN convention ratified by dozens of countries but not US The International Seabed Authority was created in 1994 by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is ratified by more than 165 nations — but not the United States. The Metals Company has argued that the U.S. seabed mining code would allow it to start operations in international waters, since it's not a member of the authority and therefore not bound by its rules. '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,' Barron said. U.S. mining code is no guarantee of a mining permit But Emily Jeffers, senior attorney for the U.S.-based nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, said it's not a foregone conclusion that the company will be given permission to mine under the U.S. seabed mining code, which requires a full environmental analysis. 'This statute has been on the books for 45 years, and there's a reason why no other companies have used it to extract minerals from the seafloor,' she said in a phone interview. 'The science is clear that companies cannot satisfy the standard demanded by the statute. There's no way to do deep-sea mining without having a significant and catastrophic effect on the environment.' Jeffers said that if the Trump administration approves the permit, it would face legal challenges from environmental organizations. 'Not an experiment we should be conducting' In late March, the Vancouver-based company announced that it would seek permission from the U.S. to start deep-sea mining in international waters to extract minerals used in electric car batteries and other green technology. The announcement was made just hours before the council of the ISA met on the last day of a two-week conference focused on how and whether to allow such mining. Scientists have said that a rush to collect minerals that take millions of years to form could unleash noise, light and smothering dust storms deep in the Earth's oceans. 'Deep-sea mining has the potential to impact not just the seabed environment, but all of the life in between,' said Jeff Watters, external affairs vice president for the U.S.-based nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. 'There are so many mysteries about this part of the ocean where we've just been able to scratch the surface.' He said deep-sea mining is 'not an experiment that we should be conducting.' Watters said in a phone interview that the area The Metals Company is seeking to explore is larger than the size of South Dakota and the extraction area larger than the size of Vermont. 'The size and scale is just huge,' he said. Companies say mining seafloor is cheaper, safer than land Mining companies have said that harvesting minerals from the seafloor instead of from land is cheaper and has less of an environmental impact. A spokesperson for the authority declined comment and referred to statements it made earlier this year. The authority has said that it has the sole legal mandate to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed. It noted that the international legal regime established by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea applies to all states, regardless of whether they are members or not. '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 authority said.
The Province
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Province
Vancouver company turns to Trump for permission to mine international waters, bypassing a UN agency
The Metals Company, based in Vancouver, said it was seeking two exploration licences and a commercial recovery permit, making it the first company to apply to commercially mine the seabed. Published Apr 29, 2025 • 4 minute read Vessels used during exploration and research of seabed mining by The Metals Company of Vancouver. Photo by The Metals Company SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Canadian company announced Tuesday that its U.S. subsidiary has submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mine the sea floor, sparking outrage by bypassing a U.N. agency that regulates deep international waters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Metals Company, based in Vancouver, said it was seeking two exploration licences and a commercial recovery permit, making it the first company to apply to commercially mine the seabed. The filing is expected to spark a complex legal battle since the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority, a United Nations agency that regulates international deepsea waters, has the power to authorize exploitation permits. 'Any commercial exploitation outside of national jurisdiction carried out without the authorization of ISA would constitute a violation of international law,' the authority said in late March after The Metals Company announced its intention to seek permission from the U.S. government to start deepsea mining in international waters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There are no regulations in place to oversee such mining as scientists warn that extracting minerals from vital ecosystems that help regulate climate change could cause permanent damage. The filing comes less than a week after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order that directs the Secretary of Commerce to expedite the review and issuance of exploration and commercial recovery permits, among other things. '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 defence,' Gerard Barron, chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said in a statement. Environmentalists and activists decried the move, saying that ISA has the sole power to authorize exploitation permits. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This unilateral American effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean already faces fierce international opposition,' said Ruth Ramos, Greenpeace's international senior campaigner. 'Governments around the world must now step up to defend international rules and co-operation against rogue deepsea mining.' For years, members of the authority's council have debated how and if to allow deepsea mining. So far, the authority has only issued exploration licenses, with most of the current exploratory activity concentrated in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which covers 4.5 million square kilometres between Hawaii and Mexico. At least 17 of 31 licences have been issued for this zone, with exploration occurring at depths ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 metres. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The International Seabed Authority was created in 1994 by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is ratified by more than 165 nations — but not the United States. The Metals Company has argued that the U.S. seabed mining code would allow it to start operations in international waters, since it's not a member of the authority and therefore not bound by its rules. '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,' Barron said. But Emily Jeffers, senior attorney for the U.S.-based non-profit Center for Biological Diversity, said it's not a foregone conclusion that the company will be given permission to mine under the U.S. seabed mining code, which requires a full environmental analysis. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This statute has been on the books for 45 years, and there's a reason why no other companies have used it to extract minerals from the sea floor,' she said in a phone interview. 'The science is clear that companies cannot satisfy the standard demanded by the statute. There's no way to do deepsea mining without having a significant and catastrophic effect on the environment.' Jeffers said that if the Trump administration approves the permit, it would face legal challenges from environmental organizations. In late March, the company announced that it would seek permission from the U.S. to start deepsea mining in international waters to extract minerals used in electric car batteries and other green technology. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The announcement was made just hours before the council of the ISA met on the last day of a two-week conference focused on how and whether to allow such mining. Scientists have said that a rush to collect minerals that take millions of years to form could unleash noise, light and smothering dust storms deep in the Earth's oceans. 'Deepsea mining has the potential to impact not just the seabed environment, but all of the life in between,' said Jeff Watters, external affairs vice-president for the U.S.-based non-profit Ocean Conservancy. 'There are so many mysteries about this part of the ocean where we've just been able to scratch the surface.' He said deepsea mining is 'not an experiment that we should be conducting.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Watters said in a phone interview that the area The Metals Company is seeking to explore is larger than the size of South Dakota and the extraction area larger than the size of Vermont. 'The size and scale is just huge,' he said. Companies say mining sea floor is cheaper, safer than land. Mining companies have said that harvesting minerals from the sea floor instead of from land is cheaper and has less of an environmental impact. A spokesperson for the authority didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The authority has said that it has the sole legal mandate to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed. It noted that the international legal regime established by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea applies to all states, regardless of whether they are members or not. Read More News Vancouver Canucks Celebrity Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks
