Recently, Norway announced its intention to allow commercial deep-sea mining in certain areas of the Norwegian continental shelf. This move aligns with the country’s strategy to explore new economic opportunities and reduce its dependence on the oil and gas sector.
Terje Aasland, Norway’s Minister for Petroleum and Energy, emphasized the need for minerals to support the country’s transition towards a greener economy. The Norwegian seabed is known to contain valuable minerals such as copper, zinc, manganese, and cobalt.
Aasland expressed concerns by saying, “Currently the resources are controlled by a few countries, which makes us vulnerable”. Therefore, the government sees deep-sea mining as a way to address this issue. However, the plan has sparked controversy, with environmental groups raising alarms about the potential negative impact of seabed mining on the delicate ecosystems in the area.
Louisa Casson, the global project leader for Greenpeace’s Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign, strongly criticized the Norwegian government’s decision, describing it as “to forge ahead and unleash deep sea mining in the Arctic would be criminal.” Casson highlighted, “Norway talks about leading the world but they clearly didn’t get the memo of the growing opposition to this industry. Companies at the forefront of the green transition are already calling for a halt to this destructive industry, as are citizens and governments from Europe to the Pacific.”
Norway, known for its wealth derived from oil and gas reserves, is eyeing its vast mineral resources on the seabed as a potential new industry. The country’s petroleum and energy ministry stated that seabed mineral extraction could become “a new and important industry” for Norway, offering economic benefits and employment opportunities while supporting the global transition to sustainable energy.
The ministry emphasized the importance of ensuring the profitability and sustainable extraction of these minerals. If these conditions are met, Norway believes that seabed mineral activities can contribute to its economy and provide crucial metals needed for sustainable energy technologies.
This development from Norway comes just ahead of an upcoming meeting of the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica. The meeting will tackle the contentious question of whether industrial-scale extraction of valuable minerals from the depths of the ocean should be allowed.
