US Plans First Deep-Sea Mining Permits Within Months

The Trump administration is moving toward issuing the first U.S. permits for deep-sea mining within months, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said at a G20 energy ministers meeting in Houston. The effort aims to reduce U.S. dependence on China by accessing polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, minerals used in electric vehicles, electronics and defense technology. The Metals Company is furthest along, with an application covering seabed in the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone, while other companies including Impossible Metals have also sought permits. U.S. authorities have issued exploration licenses in the past but never approved a commercial deep-sea mining operation, and international legal disputes and unresolved regulatory issues remain. No country has yet conducted a large-scale commercial deep-sea mine, with activity so far limited to pilot projects.