In Hachinohe, Japan, representatives from major metals traders and manufacturers—including Mitsubishi, Glencore, and Panasonic Energy—recently gathered at a nickel plant to examine samples of deep-sea ore retrieved from the Pacific Ocean floor. The event, organized by Canadian mining company The Metals Company (TMC), showcased materials collected from about 4,000 meters below the ocean’s surface. Attendees observed both jet-black, easily crumbled ore and polished metal cubes, highlighting the potential for extracting nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese from seabed resources.
Daisuke Sasaki of Pacific Metals, which is involved in the processing, noted that deep-sea mining could yield more materials using the same amount of energy compared to land-based operations. He argued that this approach may offer both economic and environmental advantages.
Despite growing interest, the development of deep-sea mining remains limited. Technical challenges, high operational costs, and concerns about the impact on deep-sea ecosystems have resulted in strict international restrictions on large-scale seabed mining since the 1990s. Proponents suggest that deep-sea mining could help reduce the environmental and social issues associated with traditional mining on land, but the practice continues to face scrutiny and debate.
The demonstration in Japan signals ongoing industry interest in the potential of underwater mining, though regulatory and environmental hurdles remain significant.
