DEEP SEA MINING – GEOGRAPHY
News: Deep
Sea mining permits may be coming soon
What's in the news?
● The
International Seabed Authority — the
United Nations body that regulates the world’s ocean floor — is preparing
to resume negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining,
including for materials critical for the green energy transition.
Deep Sea Mining:
● Deep-sea
mining is the process of extracting
minerals and metals from the seabed at depths of more than 200metres (660
feet).
● The
ocean floor is home to a variety of mineral deposits, including polymetallic
nodules, seafloor massive sulphides, and cobalt crusts.
● These
deposits can contain high concentrations of valuable metals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, and
zinc.
● The
first commercial deep-sea mining
operation is expected to begin in 2024.
● The
International Seabed Authority (ISA) has granted a test permit to Deep Green Metals to mine polymetallic
nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.
Benefits of deep-sea mining:
Developing
countries like India, are interested in pursuing deep-sea mining as a potential
source of economic growth for several reasons such as
1. Access to Mineral Resources:
● Deep-sea
mining offers the opportunity to access vast,
untapped mineral resources present on the ocean floor.
● These
resources include valuable metals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese,
and rare earth elements, which are crucial for various industries, including
technology, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
2. Economic Development and Job Creation:
● Developing
countries often seek new avenues for economic development and job creation.
● Deep-sea
mining projects can potentially provide employment opportunities in various
sectors, including mining operations,
engineering, research, and infrastructure development.
3. Reduced Dependency on Imports:
● By
engaging in deep-sea mining, countries can reduce their reliance on imported
minerals.
● This
can enhance their economic
self-sufficiency and reduce the vulnerability associated with fluctuations
in global commodity prices and supply chain disruptions.
4. Technological Advancement and Knowledge Transfer:
● Deep-sea
mining requires advanced technology and expertise, which can drive
technological innovation and development in a country.
● Engaging
in such projects can facilitate knowledge
transfer, research collaboration, and the development of indigenous
capabilities in areas such as underwater robotics, geology, and
environmental monitoring.
5. Revenue Generation:
● Deep-sea
mining activities have the potential to generate significant revenue through
the extraction and sale of valuable minerals.
● This
revenue can contribute to national budgets, infrastructure development, social
welfare programmes, and poverty alleviation efforts.
6. Facilitate Energy Transition:
● Copper
or nickel for batteries, cobalt for electric cars or manganese for steel
production; rare earth minerals and metals are fundamental to the renewable energy technologies driving the
world's energy transition.
7. Depleting Terrestrial Deposits:
● Expanding
technology and infrastructure has fueled the global demand for resources like
cobalt and nickel, whose supply is depleting fast onshore.
● Hence,
more and more countries, including India and China, are moving towards the
ocean for extracting these resources.
8. Advantage for India:
● India
is particularly interested in the potential of deep-sea mining to provide access to cobalt, which is a critical
mineral for the electric vehicle
industry.
● Deep-sea
mining could provide India with a secure source of cobalt.
● The
Indian Ocean is home to a number of polymetallic
nodules, which are potato-sized rocks that contain high concentrations of
cobalt.
Concerns of Deep-Sea Mining:
1. Lack of Research in Deep Sea:
● The
deep sea remains understudied and poorly
understood; there are many gaps in the understanding of its biodiversity
and ecosystems.
● This
makes it difficult to assess the potential impacts of deep-sea mining or to put
in place adequate safeguards to protect the marine environment.
2. Disturbance of the Seafloor:
● The
digging and gauging of the ocean floor by machines can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats.
● This
leads to the loss of species and the fragmentation or loss of ecosystem
structure and function.
3. Loss of Undiscovered Species:
● The
deep sea is home to unique species
that have adapted themselves to conditions such as poor oxygen and sunlight,
high pressure and extremely low temperatures.
● Such
mining expeditions can make them go extinct even before they are known to
science.
4. Sediment Plumes:
● Deep-sea
mining will stir up fine sediments on the seafloor, creating plumes of
suspended particles.
● This
is increased by mining ships discharging
waste water at the surface.
● Such
plumes could smother animals, harm filter-feeding species, and block animals'
visual communication.
5. Pollution:
● Species
such as whales, tuna and sharks could be affected by noise, vibrations and light pollution caused by mining equipment
and surface vessels, as well as potential leaks and spills of fuel and toxic
products.
6. No International Agreement for Mining:
● There
is absence of a mining code, which
has been under discussion for nearly 10 years.
● The
International Seabed Authority (ISA) is uncertain about the process it should
adopt for reviewing applications for mining contracts.
To
achieve a balanced approach to deep-sea mining, developing countries should
conduct through environmental
assessments, establish fair revenue-sharing agreements, build regulatory
capacity, and promote international cooperation. This ensures an
understanding of ecological impacts, equitable distribution of financial
benefits, effective monitoring, and knowledge sharing. By implementing these
measures, countries can maximize the advantages of deep-sea mining while
mitigating its negative consequences for the environment and local communities.