April 2025 | Minener.com
In a bold move to secure critical mineral supplies, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating deep-sea mining exploration and permitting in U.S. and international waters.
The order instructs the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to fast-track the approval processes for deep-sea mining projects, both within the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and beyond. Senior administration officials estimate that U.S. waters hold over 1 billion metric tons of mineral-rich nodules, containing essential materials like copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, and manganese—all critical for producing batteries, computer chips, and clean energy technologies.
“For too long, we’ve been over-reliant on foreign sources. Today’s announcement marks a major step toward reshoring resources critical to national and homeland security,” a senior official stated during the announcement.
A Strategic Response to China’s Mineral Dominance
The urgency stems largely from growing tensions with China, which currently controls the majority of the global supply chain for these minerals. Amid a protracted trade war, China has increasingly restricted mineral exports to the U.S., further intensifying the race to find alternative sources.
“We want the U.S. to get ahead of China in this resource space,” a second senior administration official emphasized.
However, commercial deep-sea mining remains untested worldwide. No country has yet launched full-scale operations, and scientists warn of potentially irreversible damage to deep-ocean ecosystems.
Bypassing International Oversight?
Trump’s executive order also proposes allowing U.S. companies to bypass the International Seabed Authority (ISA)—the United Nations-backed body tasked with regulating deep-sea mining activities in international waters. The ISA has been working to establish a mining code since 2021, but delays and international disagreements have prevented final approval.
Recently, Canada-based The Metals Company announced plans to apply for authorization under U.S. regulations instead of following the ISA’s procedures, signaling growing impatience among industry players.
While deep-sea mining companies argue that oceanic mining could offer a more sustainable alternative to land-based mining, environmental activists and scientists caution that disturbing one of the planet’s least understood ecosystems could have catastrophic consequences. Dozens of nations have called for a moratorium or ban on deep-sea mining until further research clarifies the environmental risks.
As the U.S. accelerates its deep-sea mining ambitions, a global debate over the environmental and ethical implications of this emerging industry continues to intensify.
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