Mining the deep ocean
Deep-sea mining efforts gain momentum amid resource demands.
The Metals Company has successfully piloted a subsea harvester capable of extracting valuable polymetallic nodules from the Pacific Ocean's depths, aiming to deploy similar machines across a vast area for commercial mining. With global demand for critical minerals projected to surge, particularly for clean energy technologies, the company and others are pushing for deep-sea mining despite ecological concerns and ongoing regulatory debates.
Key Takeaways
- 1.
The Metals Company aims to extract over 600 million metric tons of polymetallic nodules.
- 2.
Deep-sea mining initiatives involve 31 global projects from various countries and companies.
- 3.
The International Energy Agency predicts demand for lithium could grow 4.7 times by 2040.
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