As the US and China are tangled in the Thucydides trap, the Trump administration is gearing up to knock out China’s dominance in the mining sector by boosting exploration and exploitation of deep-sea resources. On April 24, Trump signed an executive order allowing companies to exploit deep-sea natural resources, which led to requests from startups looking for mining leases. 

What is Deep Sea Mining? 

According to IUCN, deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep seabed. The exploration area reaches the ocean below 200m,  which covers about two-thirds of the total seafloor. 

Developed countries are striving hard to explore and exploit deepsea. However, there is a potential threat of disturbing marine life with this adventure. 

Startup Impossible Metals Entered the Race

The US is home to mining corporations, including Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Newmont Mining, Peabody Energy, and many more. These companies have been exploring oil, coal, and minerals for decades. However, as soon as Trump announced the executive order for deep-sea resources, the startup company Impossible Metals jumped into the race, requesting the US Department of the Interior to buy deep-sea mining leases. Oliver Gunasekara, the CEO of Impossible Metals, stated about the startup’s goal

“We can deliver critical minerals at commercial scale in three years—10x faster, 10x cheaper, and 10x lower impact, without relying on China,”

On April 29, Impossible Metals issued a press release highlighting the vision of the company in exploring deepsea adventure. The company envisions deep-sea mining as a faster, cheaper, and less environmentally disruptive alternative to land-based mining, which is quite controversial given the research findings of environmental analysts. 

For instance, the research paper ‘Effects of a deep-sea mining experiment on seafloor microbial communities and functions after 26 years’ found that deepsea mining disturbs the microbial communities and reduces the microbial cell numbers and activities that persist even after 26 years. These mining practices disturb the essential microbial functions that are vital for nutrient cycling and overall ecosystem health in the deep sea. 

Impossible Metals AI Robots

To cope with the challenges by environmental, the startup has already developed an AI underwater robot to pick up nodules in the deep sea individually, thus avoiding all marine beings. In this wa,y the robot will protect the marine life, leaving 60% of nodules untouched. Although, the startup is making tall claims about sustainable practices in deep sea, it a gordian knot to capitalize on deep sea minerals, meanwhile saving the marine ecosystem. 

Trump’s Executive Order on Deep Sea Mining: A Bird’s Eye View 

  • Deepsea minerals are key to strengthening the US economy and energy future and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers
  • By establishing an international partnership, the US can explore the seabed polymetallic nodules and subsea geologic structures, critical for national security 
  • Support US companies to compete with China
  • Relevant departments should expedite the process of issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits

National Security or Marine Security? 

It is a million-dollar question for the US, which security is the ultimate goal of the country. On one hand, the US is in dire need of indigenous rare minerals to reduce its reliance on foreign countries. On the other hand, it is impossible (considering the current mining trends and technology) to protect marine life while mining. Although mining corporations like Impossible Metals are striving to adopt environmentally friendly practices, and the US is looking to ensure these practices before providing leases to the corporations, it is still a challenge for the US to take deep sea mining and national security hand in hand.