Norway to permit controversial deep-sea mining

Deep-sea mining could endanger spectacular marine animals

Norway is poised to become the world's first country to embrace the controversial practice of large-scale deep-sea mining, with a parliamentary vote expected soon. 

The plan aims to expedite the extraction of precious metals essential for green technologies, despite warnings from environmental scientists about potential harm to marine life. While the parliamentary vote primarily concerns Norwegian waters, discussions about international waters' mining agreements may also progress this year. The proposal is likely to pass smoothly, backed by cross-party support obtained at the end of 2023. 

The Norwegian government emphasizes a cautious approach, intending to issue licenses only after conducting further environmental studies.

The plan targets potato-sized rocks known as nodules and crusts in the deep sea, containing critical minerals like lithium, scandium, and cobalt, vital for clean technologies such as batteries.

Norway's proposal would open up 280,000 sq km (108,000 sq miles) of its national waters for mining applications, surpassing the size of the UK. While these minerals exist on land, they are concentrated in a few countries, posing a supply risk. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo, with significant cobalt reserves, faces conflict in certain regions.

Walter Sognnes, co-founder of Norwegian mining company Loke Minerals, which intends to seek a license post-approval, acknowledges the need for a better understanding of the deep ocean's environmental impact. He emphasizes a prolonged period of exploration and mapping to bridge knowledge gaps.

Martin Webeler, an oceans campaigner and researcher at the Environmental Justice Foundation, deems the plan "catastrophic" for the ocean habitat.

Critics accuse the Norwegian government of hypocrisy, noting that while they claim to prioritize the highest environmental standards, they are disregarding scientific advice. 

These critics argue that mining companies should concentrate on minimizing environmental damage in existing operations rather than venturing into a new industry. The proposal has sparked disagreement with the EU and the UK, both advocating for a temporary ban due to environmental concerns.

Harvesting minerals from the sea floor using certain techniques may result in significant noise and light pollution, along with habitat damage for organisms relying on nodules, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In an uncommon move, 120 EU lawmakers penned an open letter in November, urging the Norwegian parliament to reject the project, citing risks to marine biodiversity and climate change acceleration.

The Norwegian government has faced resistance from its own experts, with the Norway Institute of Marine Research (IMR) highlighting assumptions and knowledge gaps in the impact assessment. 

IMR suggests five to ten more years of research into species impacts is necessary. Norway won't immediately permit drilling; companies must submit proposals with environmental assessments for case-by-case approval by parliament.

Marianne Sivertsen Næss, chair of The Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment, emphasizes the government's cautious approach, stating the lack of required knowledge for seabed mineral extraction. She clarifies that opening areas for activity is not equivalent to approving seabed mineral extraction.

Walter Sognnes of Loke Minerals contends that the government's plan attracts crucial private sector investment for deep marine environment research. He estimates actual extraction may not commence until the early 2030s.

Campaigners advocate for directing more investment into recycling existing mined minerals. The Environmental Justice Foundation suggests that improved mobile phone collection and recycling could recover approximately 10% of annual cobalt production, around 16,000 tonnes per year.

While Norway's proposal primarily concerns its national waters, discussions persist on whether licenses could extend to international seas. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN-affiliated body, aims to finalize rules this year, with a final vote expected in 2025. Over 30 countries support a ban, but others, including China, urge the ISA to proceed.

Source: BBC