Deep sea mining

[Steamer]

@powerabout

Wheres the data on seabed mining?

Sitting on the sediment. Until there is mining that data can not be collected.

[Chief_Seadog]

Seems to me the choice is deep sea mining for mineral rich nodules or mining on land which is often via strip mining. Sometimes depleted strip mine land is restored…often times not.

[ombugge]

Yes, like this one and ten thousands more, only in Western Australia:

Ten thousand abandoned mines in WA and no fix in sight: Inquiry

Groundwater leakage in abandoned open cut Ellendale 9, which the government is trying to find a new operator for.
CREDIT: DMIRS

Or child labour in DRC:

DRC child labour: Mining companies accused of exploitation

Think of them when you use your smartphone, or laptop next.

[ombugge]

Norway is eyeing deep sea mining within it’s EEZ around Jan Mayen and the Svalbard Zone. This is NOT nodes, but minerals originating from “smokers”, found in a lot shallower waters than nodes are found.

PS> Jan Mayen has the only active volcano in Norwegian territory.

Scientific and technical research has been going on for 4 years to determine the extent of the deposits that is within Norwegian control,
Environmental impact study and draft laws for the extraction of these resources are ready, but no licenses have been issued, so far.

Here is an article from Jan. last year:

Norway eyeing deep-sea metal mining future instead of oil

A Feasibility Study by NTNU:

NTNU Open: Feasibility of Deep-Sea Mining Operation Within Norwegian...

And a detailed report from the Environmental Directorate:

Environmental challenges related to offshore mining and gas .

m532.pdf

For good measures, here is a video about the minerals found during the research expeditions conducted to the area:

Om havbunnsmineraler (kort versjon)

(In Norwegian but w/English subtitles)

[ombugge]

Allseas takes delivery of Seatools deep-sea mineral collection equipment -...

[ombugge]

HIDDEN GEM ENROUTE MAASVLAKTE FOR THRUSTER INSTALLATION:

Photo: Suzanne Neuman ©
Offshore energy specialist Allseas is in the process of converting its 228 m-long drillship HIDDEN GEM into its first polymetallic nodule production vessel.

Photo: Rik van Marle - Schippers Centrale Rotterdam ©

HIDDEN GEM is receiving the modifications in Rotterdam. which include installation of the vessel’s launch and recovery (LARS) system. Allseas’ engineers designed the system to safely deploy and control the 12 m nodule collector vehicle as it moves across the seabed 5 km below the surface. Lying on the ocean floor, polymetallic nodules are rich in critical metals required for energy storage and renewables technologies. Upon completion of the works in the city the HIDDEN GEM was towed to the Maasvlakte for the re-installation of the thrusters

[ombugge]

The HEBOLIFT 2 in action installing the thrusters at Allseas HIDDEN GEM at Rotterdam Maasvlakte
Photo: Flying Focus Aerial Photography www.flyingfocus.nl ©

[ombugge]

Offshore drilling giant Transocean gets into seabed mining - Splash247

“The technical challenges associated with the efficient recovery of deepsea polymetallic nodules represent an opportunity for Transocean to leverage our unique offshore expertise in support of the rapidly emerging energy storage market,” said CEO Jeremy Thigpen.

Transocean recently announced it will be using one of its rigs to drill one well and a sidetrack for the Northern Lights carbon transport and storage project.

For the greater good of mankind and free of charge, I’m sure:

[ombugge]

This ultra deepwater ‘Drilling/Mining’ vessel was aptly renamed Hidden Gem, formerly a Petrobras Drillship Vitoria 10000, and was bought over by Allseas in collaboration with The Metals Company with the business objectives of converting this ultra deepwater drillship into a deepwater polymetallic nodule collection vessel as her configuration is well-suited for modifications that will enable the deployment at sea of a 4.5 kilometer-long riser to bring polymetallic nodules up from the seafloor. The company through its subsidiaries holds exploration and commercial rights to three polymetallic nodule contract areas in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean regulated by the International Seabed Authority and sponsored by the governments of Nauru, Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga.

Now this is something that many people would have seen for the first time, a deep sea mining robot onboard a modified Deepwater Drillship, by Allseas!:

Source: Maasmond Newsclipping today.

[ombugge]

Prime Minister Should Ban Seabed Mining, Say Nearly 40,000 New Zealanders In Petition Delivered Today:

Prime Minister Should Ban Seabed Mining, Say Nearly 40,000 New Zealanders In...

Do they think child labourers toiling under the hot sun in Congo is a more acceptable method of getting the metals needed to make all the gadgets they crave?

[powerabout]

@ombugge

Do they think child labourers toiling under the hot sun in Congo is a more acceptable method of getting the metals needed to make all the gadgets they crave?

much better idea, if that idea was removed there would be no first and third world

[ombugge]

By the original definition of “1st, 2nd and 3rd World”:

Why are countries classified as First, Second or Third World?

Switzerland, Sweden etc. belong to the 3rd World

[ombugge]

Allseas Begins Deep-Sea Trial of Polymetallic Nodule Mining System

[ombugge]

First nodules surface after 4 kilometre journey - Allseas

[ombugge]

Transocean invests in DEME’s Global Sea Minerals Resources - Splash247

“GSR has an excellent leasehold position, and we are excited to support its team in the effort to meet global demand for the critical minerals necessary for a lower carbon energy economy,” said Transocean’s CEO Jeremy Thigpen. “A mixture of all energy sources will be required to meet future global energy demands. Transocean’s work in deep sea minerals is another way we will continue providing essential offshore energy services.”

[ombugge]

It’s in the news again

Norwegian government approves deep-sea mining. “It is devastating”,...

And the demonstrators are back again outside the Storting (Parliament) building in Oslo:

Ola Elvestuen (V), Marie Sneve Martinussen (R), Marianne Sivertsen Næss (AP) and Kirsti Bergstø (SV) were also present at the demonstration.
Photo: Sebastian K. Jacobsen.
Source: https://journalen.oslomet.no/2024/01/kampen-er-ikke-tapt

[ombugge]

China is itching to mine the ocean floor 

Supporters and critics of deep-sea mining are hashing out these issues at an isa meeting in Jamaica between July 29th and August 2nd. Of the 160-odd countries participating, few have more interest in the outcome than China.

Western countries’ biggest concern, though, is about who controls the supply chains of clean-energy industries. China already has a substantial advantage. Deep-sea mining might cement it. America, meanwhile, is shut out of isa discussions as it has not ratified unclos. In March a group of retired American generals and officials wrote to the Senate demanding that it ratify unclos as soon as possible. Chinese miners had “taken advantage of our absence”, they said.

Such worries are a boon, however, to the Western businesses that are pushing for deep-sea mining. One of these is The Metals Company, a Canadian outfit that hopes to apply for a commercial-mining licence from the isa later this year. It gets a warm reception in Washington these days, says Gerard Barron, its founder. “People have latched on to the fact that China is going to potentially dominate this industry,” he says. “It’s a very motivating driver.”

[ombugge]

Norway stops deep-sea mining, for now - ArcticToday

The government, which had planned to offer its first deep-sea mining exploration permits in the first half of 2025, said that although the plan was suspended, preparatory work would continue, including creating regulations and mapping the environmental impact.
“This will be a postponement,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, from the Labour Party, told private broadcaster TV2.

Norway, whose vast hydrocarbon reserves made it one of the world’s wealthiest countries, had taken a leading role in the global race to mine the ocean floor for metals that are in high demand as nations transition away from fossil fuels.

An attempt to break the Chinese stranglehold on some, if not all, the metals important for the “green shift” is then put on hold by a party that is all about stopping climate change. Go figure.

PS> That proves that illogic in politics is not only a US phenomena?