In Focus
By Alka Bala

Norway: Parliament approves controversial deep-sea mining
On 09 January, the Norway Parliament voted in favour, by 80-20 with cross-party support to open up the Norwegian waters and its seabed for commercial deep-sea mining. Through its proposal, Norway has become the first country to adopt the controversial practice, despite avid opposition from environmental groups, scientists and fishery organisations regarding the “irreversible damage” that it could cause to the marine ecosystem and its biodiversity. The approval allows for the exploration of Norwegian waters, which has reported substantial mineral reserves in the country’s continental shelf, opening up 281,200 square kilometres around the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard.
 
The proposal for exploration of deep-sea comes as the seabed covered with nodules (potato-sized rocks) and crusts contain critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, scandium and zinc which are highly crucial for the development of renewable energy technology, such as making of electric batteries and turbines. Accelerating the speed of the green transition, would also position Norway as a major energy producer, and ensure the supply and security of minerals within Europe, as currently difficulties are faced in the procurement of rare minerals, due to their unequal concentration in different parts of the world. The Government has highlighted a step-by-step approach for the implementation of deep-sea mining, where licences would be given to companies for commercial purposes only after parliamentary approval. Walter Sognnes, co-founder of Loke Minerals (a Norwegian company involved in the exploration and extraction of minerals, currently holds licenses to explore polymetallic nodules in the Pacific) awaiting license approval stated that the exploration would take place after a longer period of “mapping activity and filling the knowledge gaps regarding its environmental impact.”
 
Why are the international environmental organisations concerned?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sea-bed mining could lead to large amounts of sound, vibration and light pollution endangering marine fauna while also disturbing the habitat of organisms dependent on the nodules. Potential threats of pollution include the creation of plumes, and the leak of toxic fuels while mining. Such high environmental risks highlight the need to use alternative approaches to deep-sea mining, substantiated by a report by the Environment Justice Foundation, which proposed that through improved recycling, circular economy and new technologies, demand for minerals could be reduced by 58 per cent between 2022 and 2050. Other environmentalists urge to focus on reducing the environmental damage caused by current mining operations on land, instead of starting a new industry.
 
What is Europe’s response and take on deep-sea mining?
The global and regional response to Norway’s decision has been marked with criticism, with 24 countries including France and the UK, demanding a temporary ban on sea-bed mining. France has taken strongly opposed deep-sea mining voting for a ban in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The UK had shown its support for a temporary moratorium until enough scientific evidence was made available. Other EU countries that have expressed their support for a temporary ban are Spain, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and Portugal. 190 EU lawyers had marked their disapproval of the practice in an open letter addressed to the Norwegian Parliament, in November 2023, citing the research by 700 scientists, urging them to withdraw their proposal due to knowledge gaps. The European Commission also expressed its fear over the negative environmental impacts of such an activity. A resolution adopted in 2022 in the European Parliament on the blue economy has also urged international support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Sceptics of Norway’s behaviour question its reputation as a responsible ocean nation and highlight the hypocrisy in its environmental policies as it disregards potential environmental risks.
 
What lies ahead for Norway?
Norway through its approval for deep-sea exploration in its national waters and mining has set an uncertain precedent for discussions regarding the exploration and exploitation of minerals in international waters, as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is yet to finalise the rules and regulations on the same, possibly by 2025.  As of now only 3 start-ups with links to “sea-services” companies, including Loke Minerals which aims to harvest manganese ore if its license gets approved, whereas another company Green Minerals hopes to extract copper ore and is positive to start test-mining from 2028. Deep sea mining companies post-approval of the license will explore Mohns Ridge, a wedge of Arctic seabed. Activists and scientists find mining companies collecting data on environmental concerns as problematic, as they fear such data might be biased and mask the environmental risks. However, the industry argues that the necessary resources for extensive mapping and exploration are in the hands of private companies. Proponents of Norway’s proposal believe that deep-sea mining would allow a faster transition to a low-carbon economy, however, such an activity would be performed at the cost of losing the earth’s oldest carbon reservoirs. Scientists highlight the risks of the unknown, as much of the deep sea is unexplored. The feasibility of a new mining industry is also debated as these minerals might prove difficult to extract.

References
Miranda Bryant, “Norway votes for deep-sea mining despite environmental concerns”, The Guardian, 9 January 2024
Esme Stallard, “Deep-sea mining: Norway approves controversial practice”, BBC, 10 January 2024
Rosie Frost, “Norway becomes first country to back deep-sea mining despite environmental concerns”, Euronews, 11 January 2024
Hugo Struna, “Norway’s parliament gives green light for controversial deep-sea mining”, Euractiv, 10 January 2024
Laura Paddison, “Norway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining”, CNN, 9 January 2024
Sam Meredith, “Norway poised to open vast ocean area to controversial deep-sea mining”, CNBC, 9 January 2024
Morgan Meaker, “These mining companies are ready to raid the seabed”, WIRED, 12 January 2024
Karen McVeigh, “UK backs suspension of deep-sea mining in environmental U-turn”, Euractiv, 31 October 2023
Mared Dwyn Jones, “Deep-sea mining can yield many riches. The EU is against but its neighbours are keen”, Euronews, 10 October 2023