Final approval by the U.S. government moves a step closer. However, bypassing the International Seabed Authority is also drawing criticism.
The Canadian company The Metals Company (TMC) is making progress with its plans to extract critical raw materials from the deep sea. Its application has been deemed fully compliant by the responsible US authority, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to TMC, this marks a milestone on the path toward full approval, which is expected in early 2027.
The mining is set to take place in international waters within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean. The application submitted earlier this year by its subsidiary TMC USA significantly expands the proposed area compared to a previous version, from around 25,000 to approximately 65,000 square kilometers. The site is believed to contain at least 619 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules. These typically fist-sized mineral formations contain not only manganese but also nickel, copper, and rare earth elements.
According to TMC, the application is based on more than a decade of environmental studies. The company states that the compiled data represent some of the most comprehensive datasets to date on polymetallic nodules and their ecosystems.
Deep-Sea Mining – A Controversial Global Issue
Deep-sea mining remains highly controversial due to its insufficiently understood environmental impacts. Countries such as France and Germany have therefore called for a moratorium. Others, including the United States, are pushing ahead with this form of resource extraction.
Jurisdiction varies by location: within national waters, individual states decide on seabed mining activities. Beyond those zones, authority lies with the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Although TMC’s planned operations fall within such international waters, the company is seeking approval from the US government under domestic legislation. Critics view this approach as potentially violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Photo: iStock/inusuke
