Trump administration aims to be the first to exploit the seafloor for critical minerals
The US government has published a draft notice of intent to lease a mining concession on the outer continental shelf of American Samoa, in the Pacific Ocean, paving the way for deep-sea mining in US waters.
“Critical minerals have become a strategic asset in global competition, and China’s dominance in the supply of many of these materials creates unacceptable risks for America’s energy, defense and manufacturing sectors,” said acting the acting director of the US Marine Minerals Administration (MMA), Matt Giacona.
The project, which could herald the first large-scale seabed mining operations, is due to open with an auction on 19 November, where the Trump administration plans to make around 12 million hectares available for development, according to the NGO Earth Justice.
The announcement on Thursday has sparked a wave of criticism, as scientists fear exploiting the seabed could have disastrous consequences for biodiversity and an ecosystem that has yet to be fully studied.
