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7/26/2025, 8:10:39 AM
The CEO of a trailblazing seabed mining company has reportedly turned his attention from combating climate change to obtaining vital minerals for electric car batteries, according to a recent Bloomberg piece.
At a 2019 UN meeting, Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company (TMC), highlighted the advantages of seabed mining for the environment.
Nonetheless, he underlined the significance of these minerals for the country's energy security and competitiveness against nations such as China at a recent congressional hearing in Washington.
Changing the messaging is gaining popularity. President Trump's April executive order accelerated U.S. seabed mining licensing processes in an effort to counter China's sway over critical mineral supply chains. In accordance with international regulations, TMC is now set to test its mining method in the Pacific Ocean.
Through the promotion of deep-sea resources rich in cobalt and nickel found in polymetallic nodules dispersed across vast ocean floors, TMC has taken advantage of U.S. desires for independence from Chinese sources, as China currently dominates the global supply chain for essential minerals on land. Notwithstanding this progress, obstacles still stand in the way of TMC's goals.
Notably, Barron claims they could start up as soon as they received licenses, but recovering resources from four kilometres below the surface is still difficult from a technological and business standpoint. However, the viability in comparison to conventional land-based mining is still unknown due to fluctuating metal prices and advancements in battery technology that may not require these specific metals.
A RAND analysis raises questions regarding the need for these vital minerals in the future due to the quick advancements in battery manufacturing technology. The possible environmental effects of deep-sea mining operations are also the subject of strong international resistance.
Maritime Training Online courses offer a comprehensive education on seabed mining, including resource potential, technological needs, environmental effects, and economic feasibility, in addition to other academic disciplines such as geology, oceanography, marine biology, engineering, and economics.
During a recent discussion about member nation compliance with regard to contracts pertaining to seabed exploration rights, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) indirectly referenced companies such as TMC that are pursuing U.S.-issued licenses, expressing dissatisfaction with unilateral actions such as those
taken by Trump's administration.
In terms of technological preparedness, businesses like Impractical Metals are investigating nodule extraction as well, but they are delayed since trials must be completed before they can start, which might push any possible commercial operations into the early 2030s at most.
Besides, the processing of these nodules is another challenge; the United States currently has limited capabilities because there are no facilities built for this purpose. This is made worse by decades of declines in domestic metallurgical expertise when compared to nations like China that have made significant investments in refining capacities.
As ISA delegates continue to debate how to best regulate or address unilateral actions by countries or corporations seeking seabed resources outside of established international frameworks, the legal and economic stakes are still high due to the reputational risks associated with breaking international treaties governing the management of oceanic resources.
In summary, although the prospect of exploiting oceanic mineral wealth through strategic alliances and cutting-edge technologies is exciting, major challenges must be overcome before deep-sea mining projects can yield any meaningful gains.
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