Norwegian authorities at this time took a brand new step in the direction of undersea mineral extraction, a controversial follow, by inviting potential gamers within the sector to determine areas they could be concerned about.
“This marks the start line of one thing that might grow to be a brand new trade on the Norwegian continental shelf,” Torgeir Stordal, head of the Norwegian continental shelf directorate, stated in a press release.
Norway, which made its fortune from offshore hydrocarbon mining, might turn out to be the primary nation to permit mining of minerals from the seabed, arguing the significance of not relying on China to produce key minerals for the inexperienced transition .
As many states and scientists say they oppose the follow resulting from uncertainty about its affect on ecosystems, the Norwegian parliament formally gave it the go-ahead earlier this yr.
By approving this analysis, Oslo states that it needs to collect the information it lacks and assures that mining will solely be allowed if such analysis proves that it may be achieved in a method that respects the surroundings.
The Ministry of Vitality introduced on April 12 the beginning of exploration in offshore Norway and the Greenland Sea, with the goal of granting the primary licenses within the first half of 2025.
A number of international locations, together with France and Britain, and massive enterprise have known as for a moratorium on undersea mining, and the European Parliament expressed concern in February over the Norwegian determination.
“Extra folks have been to house than to those depths,” an official of the World Huge Fund for Nature (WWF) of Norway, Kaya Lene Fjordoft, underlined in early April, talking of the “final wilderness of the planet”.
“Nonetheless what we do know is that our deep seas are extraordinarily essential to us dwelling right here,” she added, referring to their position in producing oxygen and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2).
In keeping with the Norwegian authorities, the nation's continental shelf very seemingly accommodates vital deposits of minerals, similar to copper, cobalt, zinc, amongst others, and uncommon earths.
Some are utilized in batteries, wind generators, computer systems and different cell phones.
Supply: APE-MPE-AFP
