DEEP SEA MINING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy/Environment)

Context: India will seek licenses to explore deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean as part of its strategy to secure resources essential for energy transition technologies.

Deep-Sea Mining

• About: It refers to three primary methods of mineral extraction, with the most common being the removal of polymetallic nodules from underwater environments.
• Significance of Polymetallic Nodules: It contain essential minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are crucial for clean energy technologies, including electric car batteries.
• Global Competition for Resources: The discovery of these nodules has sparked a race among high-income countries to secure underwater minerals necessary for the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.
• Political and Economic Implications:

oControl of Critical Minerals: Countries that dominate the supply of critical minerals will have significant influence over the global political economy of electrification and decarbonization.

oCurrent Mineral Supply Dynamics: Currently, 70% of the world's cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and 95% of lithium comes from Argentina, Chile, and China, creating supply chain vulnerabilities.

oOpportunities for Mineral-Poor States: Deep-sea mining could potentially provide mineral-poor states with the chance to gain supply chain independence and access to emerging green technology markets.

Regional Focus: The Pacific Ocean

• Clarion-Clipperton Zone: Much of the deep-sea mining activity is expected to occur in the Pacific Ocean, particularly in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, which holds a significant cluster of deep-sea minerals.
• Environmental Concerns:

oPacific Island states that rely on sectors like fishing, tourism, and renewable energy are particularly concerned about the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on their economies and ecosystems.

oThe environmental impacts of deep-sea mining, including effects on migratory fish patterns, marine biodiversity, and long-term ecosystem health, are not well-understood and could be both immediate and irreversible.

oA study simulating deep-sea mining disturbances found evidence of ecosystem disruption even twenty-six years after the disturbance, highlighting the potential for long-term environmental damage.