Norwegian Government Plans to Open Up Vast Area of Ocean for Deep-Sea Mining
The Norwegian government is planning to open up an area of ocean nearly the size of Germany to deep-sea mining in an effort to become the first country to extract battery metals from its seabed. The country’s Energy Ministry is aiming to submit a proposal to parliament in the next two weeks to open up the vast area to applications for exploration and extraction. If approved, the plan will then face a parliamentary vote in the autumn. However, the proposed plans are facing opposition from fishing companies and environmental groups, and could lead to disputes with other nations.
Mining Operations to Extract Copper and Other Rare Metals
The proposed area off the coast of Norway contains volcanic springs up to 4,000m deep that spew out copper and other metals used in electric vehicle batteries. This includes around 38 million tonnes of copper, which is more than is currently mined worldwide each year. Furthermore, metal crusts found on the seabed can be mined to extract rare-earth metals such as neodymium and dysprosium, which are used to create magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles. China largely controls the supply chain for these rare-earth metals, although extracting them from the seabed could give Norway a competitive edge.
Fishing and Environmental Groups Oppose Deep-Sea Mining
The government contends that deep-sea mining will help Europe transition to renewable energy technologies. However, fishing companies are concerned that mining activity could contaminate their catches, while environmental groups warn of “significant and irreversible consequences to the marine environment”. Norway’s Environment Agency has opposed the plan, stating that it violates the country’s legal framework for seabed exploration by failing to provide enough data on sustainability.
Potential Disputes with Russia, EU, and UK
The Norwegian government faces potential disputes with Russia, the EU, and the UK over the proposed mining area. While Norway claims it holds exclusive mineral rights over a larger area of water than these nations, the others disagree with the extent of the area covered by the Svalbard Treaty. The treaty gives Norway sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago and permits other countries to mine on the mainland and in territorial waters around the islands. As mining activity could be potentially disruptive to fishing and shipping in the area, Norway’s environment agency has strongly opposed the plan.
Government Claims “Precautionary Approach” to Environmental Issues
Norwegian state secretary for energy, Amund Vik, claims that the government is taking a “precautionary approach” to environmental issues surrounding deep-sea mining. He acknowledges that the government faces potential conflicts with fishing companies and environmental groups, but contends that the potential for conflict is limited by the small amount of fishing activity and shipping traffic in the proposed area. The government is keen to become a leader in deep-sea mining, arguing that the technology could help Europe meet the desperate need for more minerals and rare earths for transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Additional Piece: The Environmental Implications of Deep-Sea Mining
Deep-sea mining is a contentious issue that raises concerns about the potential environmental impact on the world’s oceans. As the demand for minerals and rare earths used in renewable energy technologies continues to grow, mining companies are looking to exploit the vast mineral deposits found on the seabed. However, the consequences of extracting these resources are not yet fully understood.
One major concern is the potential impact of mining on the marine biodiversity of the ocean floor. The seabed is home to a diverse range of species that play vital roles in regulating ocean ecosystems. Some organisms have evolved to thrive in the extreme conditions of the deep sea, and mining activity could irreparably damage these ecosystems. Furthermore, the sediment plumes created by mining can travel several kilometers from the site of extraction, impacting marine habitats far from the mining operation.
Another potential danger is the release of toxic materials into the marine environment. Mining can release heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, which are toxic to marine life. These materials can accumulate in the food chain, potentially causing health problems for humans and wildlife that consume contaminated seafood. In addition, mining activity can disturb sediments and release methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Given these environmental concerns, there is a growing consensus that deep-sea mining must be conducted carefully and transparently. The International Seabed Authority, which governs mining operations in international waters, has established a set of rules and regulations to guide mining companies. These include requirements for environmental assessments, monitoring of marine ecosystems, and the use of best available technologies to reduce the impact of mining. Countries, including Norway, are also required to conduct detailed assessments of the potential environmental impact of their mining operations before they are approved.
The debate around deep-sea mining is complex and multifaceted, with economic and environmental factors competing for attention. Supporters argue that it is necessary to extract these resources to meet the demands of a growing renewable energy industry, while opponents worry about the potential environmental consequences of such activities. On balance, it is likely that a cautious approach to deep-sea mining is required, one that takes into account the fragility of the marine ecosystem and the need to protect it for future generations.
Summary:
Norway’s Energy Ministry is planning to open up a vast area of ocean to deep-sea mining, encompassing more than 38 million tonnes of copper, as well as other metals used in electric vehicle batteries. The plan is facing opposition from fishing companies and environmental groups, who have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of mining on marine biodiversity. The proposed mining area also clashes with other nations, potentially leading to disputes over its jurisdiction. Environmental groups have highlighted the dangers of releasing toxic materials and greenhouse gases into the marine environment. As the demand for minerals and rare earths continues to grow, it is important that mining operations are conducted responsibly and transparently to minimize their impact on the marine ecosystem.
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The Norwegian government is preparing plans to open up an area of ocean nearly the size of Germany to deep-sea mining as it seeks to become the first country to extract battery metals from its seabed.
The country’s energy ministry is rushing to submit a proposal to parliament in the next two weeks to open up the vast area to applications for exploration and extraction. The plan is then expected to face a parliamentary vote in the autumn.
But Oslo faces a battle with fishing companies and environmentalists over the proposals, and risks opening disputes with other nations as it pushes to allow mining near Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic. Norway claims it holds exclusive mineral rights over a larger area of water than Russia, the UK and the EU.
Volcanic springs up to 4,000m deep that spew out of the earth’s crust on fault lines between tectonic plates in the proposed area contain around 38 million tonnes of copper, more than is mined worldwide each year.
Amund Vik, state secretary in Norway’s oil and energy ministry, told the Financial Times that deep-sea mining would help Europe meet the “desperate need for more minerals and rare earths to make the transition possible.” “. The government will take a “precautionary approach” on environmental issues, he added.
The fluid emerging from hydrothermal vents like those in Norwegian waters also contains other metals used in electric car batteries, including cobalt. Meanwhile, seabed metal crusts can be mined for rare-earth metals such as neodymium and dysprosium. These are used to make the magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors, but their supply chain is largely controlled by China.
Of the region earmarked for mining potential, the most controversial part would be the area near Svalbard. The Svalbard Treaty, which gives Norway sovereignty over the islands, also grants other countries the right to mine on the mainland and in the territorial waters around the archipelago. Russia, the EU and the UK disagree with Norway on the extent of the water area covered by this treaty.
Meanwhile, fishing operations fear pollution from mining could contaminate their catches. Jane Sandell, chief executive of UK Fisheries – whose super trawler Kirkella is one of the last UK trawlers to operate this far north – said she was “deeply concerned” about the possibility of toxic particles of heavy metals being released.
Sverre Johansen, secretary general of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, said the Norwegian fishing industry was “not affected at all” by the proposal. The government says the “potential for conflict” is small given the limited fishing activity and shipping traffic in the area.
Norway’s environment agency strongly opposed the plan. In a consultation this year he said the proposal violated Norway’s legal framework for seabed exploration by not providing enough data on sustainability.
He warned of “significant and irreversible consequences to the marine environment” from mining and argued that volcanic smokers, or hydrothermal vents, should remain intact and only small areas be opened for mining.
One problem for the energy ministry is Norway’s claim in the international arena that it is a protector of its oceans and a source of sustainably sourced fish.
Kaja Loenne Fjaertoft, a marine biologist at campaign group WWF’s Norwegian branch, said “the government speaks in two languages” defending marine conservation as it “moves ahead” with mining plans.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, currently co-chair of the Ocean Panel network of world leaders committed to ocean protection, told a local newspaper in March that deep-sea mining could be done without harming biodiversity.
Miners operating in other countries including China, Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Japan and New Zealand have been exploring how to extract the metals from coastal waters. The UN-backed regulator that oversees bids to extract from international waters, mainly in the Pacific, is expected to reach a tipping point in negotiations next month.
Egil Tjaland, secretary general of the Norwegian Forum for Marine Minerals, an industry group, said deep waters were a “specialty” for Norway due to its strong offshore oil and gas base. The group recently held a seminar in Berlin to discuss partnerships between Norwegian and German deep-sea mining industry.
“If anyone gets there first, it should be us,” said Walter Sognnes, chief executive of Loke Marine Minerals, which plans to mine Norway’s metallic crusts and recently took on two UK-sponsored exploration contracts in the Pacific. “We are a great fishing nation, we live by the sea, the ocean is our greatest resource. . . We wouldn’t reinvent the wheel.”
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