Trump’s critical mineral engine paves the way for gold rush in the depths of the seas

Critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese can be found in nodules the size of potatoes at the bottom of the sea floor.

Pallava Bagla | Corbus News Gety pictures

US President Donald Trump‘s Critical mineral engine It seems that the way to pave the golden rush at the ocean floor.

It seeks to face China Mineral dominanceTrump administration in April Fell A comprehensive executive order for rapid tracking Depending on the depths of the seas Inside the United States and International Water.

This step is designed to help private companies reach billions of tons of rocks the size of potatoes known as Polymer nodules, which are rich in minerals of strategic importance.

It seems that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government agency, welcomes the Trump advertisement, Saying The executive order publishes the “next gold rush” and puts the ground for a “prosperous local manufacturing industry”.

However, Washington is seen unilaterally for mining in the depths of the seas as very controversial, with the position of critics who know legal and the environment Fears. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Condemn Trump has commanded the executive, saying that he “violates” international law and “harms collective interests” of the international community.

Think about the current state of the industry, Metal Company “It becomes vital,” said TMC.

I think this request will shake the geopolitical game.

Maria Jose (Mago) Valverde

Biological diversity analyst and sustainability in the Eurasia Group

TMC Follow Trump’s executive order by applying for a commercial license to extract the ocean bottom. If it is approved, the company listed on the Nasdak Stock Exchange may become the first mining company on the sea floor to obtain a license to exploit minerals in international waters.

“The only thing that this administration offers is some certainty in the direction, and I think the only problem we have always faced is the organizational certainty – this is not available in ISA. But available abundantly in the United States of America,” Baron told CNBC via video call.

In response to the TMC application to obtain a license to extract the law under US local law, the International Sea Foundation (ISA), an unknown regulator that oversees the depths of the seas, He said It is still the only legal authority to organize seafood mining activities in international waters.

Although companies are “free to express their views”, ISA warned that any attempt to overcome this process “will be a violation of international law.”

Gerard Baron, Chairman and CEO of Minerals, hopes that his company will be able to extract the sea floor for nickel, cobalt and manganese in the Pacific Ocean.

Caroline Cole Los Angeles Times Gety pictures

ISA negotiating has long sought to develop a bases book to organize the exploitation and extraction of multiple nodules and other deposits at the ocean bottom – before mining activity began.

Isa Secretary General Leticia Carvalho CNBC said Last year, member states could have agreed in a form of organization by the end of 2025.

The interest of the investor is “enormous”

Baron from TMC opposed the ISA schedule of mining law, saying that there is no opportunity for an international agreement this year. He described the investor’s interest after Trump’s executive order as “like night and day” for the company, as TMC has prepared the efforts currently made to prepare production.

“We are believers,” Baron said. “

The depths of the seas in the depths of the seas include the use of machines to remove minerals and minerals-such as cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese-from the sea floor. The ultimate use of these large -scale metals includes applications for the defense and green technology sectors.

ALLSEAS Experimental Mosque vehicle for use by the Metal Company. The image presented by the metal company.

Photo compliment minerals company

In fact, in addition to increasing the security and manufacture of supply chain, defenders say that the sea floor mining can help reduce the adoption of large mining operations on the ground.

Meanwhile, scientists have warned that the full environmental effects of the sea floor mining are difficult to predict, while environmental campaigns groups say that practice cannot be done sustainable.

Barron from TMC, which recently to attest In a hearing in the US Congress, the company said that it intends to present the organization’s environmental impact statement, noting that it “categorically indicates the fact that we can do this safely and we can reduce the effect.”

“The thing that people missed is that there is a zero chance that will not happen,” said Baron. He added that the company is confident that it will receive a permit to remove the sea floor before the end of the year.

Geopolitical consequences

Maria Jose (Mago) Valverde, an analyst of biological diversity and sustainability in the Eurasia Group, a political consultant, said that American support for mining in the depths of the seas can have deep geopolitical repercussions.

“I think this request will shake the geopolitical plate. The United States has already done so in climate space Exit from the Paris Agreement I think this is now integrating into broader environmental processes. “

Valverde said that Trump’s executive can motivate ISA member states to finally reach a deal to make the formal nature of the mining code, especially given that the United Nations has been actually notified to avoid the race to the bottom of the ocean.

“If you have the United States to follow this strategy,” it goes alone, “Valverde said, for example, to avoid buying minerals extracted from the United States or negotiating more convenient deals among them – especially China, because they are really active in ISA negotiations,” Valverde said.

She added that Trump’s executive “has expanded a panorama of the options that the two countries can follow, especially now after pluralism is eroded and that we are in the G-Zero environment where the two countries only look at their backyard-and become more creative about what they want to think about.”

Legal and environmental concerns

Daniel Fujir, president and president of the advisers, said that you are visiting, a group of advocacy of shareholders, that non -profit in the United States “is deeply anxious” by Trump’s executive order.

“Whatever the United States, there should be an organizational review. In order for Trump to issue an executive thing that requires us to advance with this immediately – this is a problem,” Fujir told CNBC by calling.

“I think this creates a storm. China says that this is illegal and the sea law must rule the deep SEA resources that should benefit all humanity, and this is in fact what the sea law requires. However, the United States says it is entitled to plunder the resources of deep seas.”

Environmental activists are calling for an international endowment to minimize the depths of the seas.

SOPA photos | Lightrockket | Gety pictures

The United States is certainly one of the few countries that do not ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It is also cultivated, which supports the depths of the depths of the seas EndowmentTrump’s aforementioned order means that ISA member states are now under great pressure to reach an organizational framework for how to move forward-and if-mining in the depths of the seas.

“We are very concerned about this executive and the effect that is likely to have these living organisms, on these resources and hunting countries that depend on the oceans for their livelihoods,” said Fujer.