Analysis: Race to the bottom for deep-sea minerals centers on tiny Nauru
Nauru and its roughly 11,000 inhabitants have become central figures in an increasingly contentious debate over whether marine beds should be mined for nickel and other green energy transition minerals.
Nauru has taken an aggressive stance towards protecting the environment, advocating rapid electrification of global economies to curb climate-warming carbon emissions – which necessitates more minerals – while conservationists feel mining the ocean floor could jeopardise vital ecosystems and their biodiversity.
United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA), charged with permitting and regulating mining outside national jurisdiction, failed to reach an agreement during several rounds of negotiations held last month in Jamaica to define guidelines for the mining of polymetallic nodules at depths of 4 to 6 kilometres (2.5 to 4 miles) undersea.
Negotiations on deep sea mining applications will continue over the coming weeks, however a process initiated by Nauru in 2021 means the International Seabed Authority must accept deep-sea mining applications this July even though standards haven’t yet been agreed upon.
Environmentalists are concerned about mining companies operating unimpeded across global seabeds; however, Nauru officials are calling for firm standards so their industry can progress quickly.
By the words of Margo Deiye, Nauru’s ambassador to the UN and ISA, “Our interest lies in creating legal certainty and responsible development.”
Other nations could apply to begin mining by July, but Nauru emerged as the leading advocate after initiating the two-year countdown, as allowed under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Metals Company (TMC.O) (TMC), a Canadian company, and Nauru are collaborating closely to harvest deep sea minerals for Glencore Plc (GLEN.L) and other clients.
Deiye indicated that Nauru will deny TMC an application for a license in July if standards aren’t in place; however, she refused to comment when asked if future applications would be rejected due to confidentiality agreements with TMC.
ISA provided Reuters with a statement declaring their full commitment to safeguarding marine environments while overseeing economic, exploratory, and scientific activity in deep waters.
Studies suggest that subsea plumes of mining waste could impede animal migration, while industrial noise that travels over long distances could prevent whale communication among themselves.
“Currently, scientific evidence points towards permanent damage to marine environments,” stated Beth Orcutt from Maine’s Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences who took part in Jamaica discussions.
Nauru, which is slowly sinking into the Pacific Ocean, recognizes that deep-sea mining would cause disruption, but has asked the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to set baselines for acceptable dust, noise and other factors, Deiye said.
Deiye requested “thresholds that allow us to act responsibly given our global climate crisis,” noting “our trajectory is quite dire for my nation”.
The Vancouver-based TMC is also working to establish standards, although it reserves the right to submit a permit application should regulatory processes drag out.
Gerard Barron, TMC’s Chief Executive, told Reuters: “There must be an acknowledgement of the fact that more metals are needed,” but questioning why we would destroy rainforests to mine nickel instead of extracting it from a part of Earth with less life?
CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE The International Seabed Authority (ISA) serves both as mining regulator and custodian of seabed environment, leading to accusations from environmentalists that its mandate may be too close to mining industry interests. In response to this criticism, in its statement released Monday the ISA asserted its proceedings have been “fully transparent”.
Six experts told Reuters the International Standardization Agency is likely to miss its July deadline for setting mining standards, leaving uncertainty as to if and how mining licenses may be granted.
Under current rules, any mining application submitted by a country must first be assessed by the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission (LTC), before receiving recommendations to its ruling council for consideration. For any proposed plan to receive approval by one third of council’s 36 members.
The council could instruct the LTC not to make recommendations until all necessary regulations have been adopted, thereby effectively stopping its process, according to Jessica Battle from World Wide Fund for Nature.
TMC and others assert that such action would violate international maritime law and are surprised that many ISA members seem split over this issue.
As part of their green energy transition processes, multiple countries including Germany have called for an indefinite moratorium on seabed mining as part of an unalterable moratorium. At the same time, licenses to conduct this mining themselves have been acquired.
Franziska Brantner, Secretary for economic affairs of a Germany’s state and climate action said it to media : “Risks must therefore be managed appropriately while research should also take place into more eco-friendly technologies for mining.” “Otherwise there will be further harm already done.”
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