News and Developments

The latest news and developments on Deep Sea Mining and its cast of global characters

News and Developments

The Metals Company announces $37 million investment to advance deep sea mining development

TMC gets an injection of confidence from seasoned investors, and enough cash to operate while it goes through pioneering permitting promise for deep sea mining licence.

Science

Chinese study creates risk management tool for deep sea mining stakeholders

Knowing how the barriers to deep sea mining rank could be useful whether you're for or against the activity. A group of scientists has done the maths.

Miners

The Cobalt Uncertainty: how does deep sea mining affect the supply chain?

Cobalt is a silvery-gray metal with a faint bluish tint that plays an outsized role in modern technology, powering everything from electric vehicle batteries to aeroplanes. How does the plan to extract it from the ocean impact a delicately balanced supply chain?

News and Developments

China to strengthen voice at ISA with Observer status application from oil-backed foundation

As the United States goes it alone on deep sea mining, China presses ahead with further multilateral engagement at the International Seabed Authority.

Miners

The Metals Company announces Q1 conference call amidst rash of good news

Buoyed by an eventful start to 2025, The Metals Company still has a few issues to clarify when it meets investors this week.

News and Developments

Dark Oxygen professor Andrew Sweetman defends his research against searing industry pushback

The marine scientist has been feeling bullied ever since he released his controversial paper on 'Dark Oxygen' but stands his ground on scientific process.

News and Developments Featured

China may set up joint patrols to monitor U.S. Deep Sea Mining, China academics opine

Two China based academics have suggested that China may set up 'joint maritime patrols' to monitor any future US-sanctioned deep sea mining activities in international waters. The suggestion was made in an opinion piece, jointly written by Dr Ma Bo and Liu Yuhang for South China Morning Post,

News and Developments

'Dark Oxygen' professor to present in-person evidence today.

A Scottish professor who claims poly-metallic deep sea nodules produce oxygen has promised to present "several items of evidence for it and discuss the results in the context of what they mean for seabed mining activities". Prof. Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science will make

Miners

Whither Nauru? Why The Metals Company should explain how its US pivot affects the cash strapped island

Nauru has been a faithful and active sponsor for The Metals Company and expects a financial return.

News

MIT professor urges acceptance of the science on deep sea mining

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor says some of the suggested impacts of deep sea mining are less severe than previously thought and urged everyone to accept the science in areas where the research is conclusive. Speaking this week at a US congressional hearing on the matter, Dr. Thomas

News and Developments

Deadline for US lawmakers to submit questions on deep sea mining at 5pm EDT

Today is the deadline for US lawmakers to submit final questions on deep sea mining, following this week's congressional hearing on the matter. The hearing, held on Capitol Hill, involved contributions from the CEOs of two commercial miners, The Metals Company and Impossible Metals, as well as a

News and Developments

International Seabed Authority Secretary General rejects accusations of bias and delays

The UN regulator responsible for deep sea mining has hit back at allegations that it has a bias towards conservationists. In a statement Wednesday from the International Seabed Authority, the Secretary General, Leticia Reis de Carvalho, called the allegation naive and an affront to the countries that have been working

Protestors

Conservationist tells US lawmakers that Deep Sea Mining will harm, not help the country

A prominent international coalition against deep sea mining has delivered a searing warning to US lawmakers that the move to unilaterally issue licences will be disadvantageous economically, scientifically and environmentally to the country. The Trump administration said deep sea mining will net US$300 billion for the US economy in

News and Developments

TMC pushes ahead of schedule with application to deep sea mine

Canadian miner, The Metals Company, surprised markets on Tuesday by applying for a deep sea mining commercial recovery licence from the US government. The move comes at least two months ahead of schedule as the company had originally said it would submit an application in the second half of 2025.

News and Developments

US Representatives question financial viability of deep sea minerals in hearing

Members of a US House of Representatives committee hearing on deep sea mining, today, challenged the narrative that the minerals to be dredged are as financially lucrative as has been suggested. The US President, Donald Trump, signed an executive order last week expediting plans to issue licences for exploitation in

News and Developments

Watch: US Oversight Hearing on Deep Sea Mining

A Committee of the US House of Representatives will hold an oversight hearing on Deep Sea Mining this morning in the capital. The Committee on Natural Resources through its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will host the hearing Exploring the Potential of Deep-Sea Mining to Expand American Mineral Production.  The

News and Developments

ISA-backed Deep Sea Miners press ahead with training regime

As US President Donald Trump moves to expedite deep sea mining exploitation, the 22 contractors who hold exploration only licences through the international regulator are pressing ahead with their training regimes. Contractors from France, Germany and China all have looming deadlines in May for applicants to access competitive training programmes

News

Hawaii residents cautious about Deep Sea Mining in Pacific Ocean

Hawaii's largest news gatherer, Honolulu Star Advertiser, has launched a poll on US president Donald Trump's decision to open deep sea mining in the Pacific Ocean. Trump's announcement was made via an Executive Order last week, in defiance of the international UN regulator, which

News

Anti Deep Sea Mining coalition makes urgent call for new members

Anti Deep Sea Mining coalition makes urgent call for governments to join the moratorium in the wake of Trump executive order.

News and Developments

UN Seabed Authority in China after shock Trump announcement

International Seabed Authority in China after shock Trump announcement to unilaterally open up deep sea mining.

News and Developments

The Metals Company - stock watch

The Metals Company opens trading on a high this week following last week's surge in its share price on the Nasdaq exchange in the United States. The stock surged at close of trading last week following US president Donald Trump's executive order to permit deep sea

News

The Trump Intervention

On Thursday this week, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order unleashing what many are calling the next gold rush. But the move is fraught with tension. This is the story of why it happened.

Regulator Related

The International Seabed Authority Problem

The International Seabed Authority is at centre of one of the most important battles of the 21st century - the race for minerals at the bottom of the sea. Will it green light deep sea mining or scupper long-held commercial dreams?

News

Welcome to Deep Blue League

Forget the space race. Deep sea mining is the new frontier as commercial miners race to access cobalt, nickel, manganese and other critical minerals from the bottom of the world's oceans. These minerals are used in electric vehicles, smart phones, aeronautics, green tech, and a host of modern