. Those efforts had been moving slowly, reflecting the complexity of international marine law. And even as interest grew in extracting minerals, so did concern about how deep-sea mining could affect marine life and ocean health.
The two-year period triggered by Nauru’s request expired on July 9 without the ISA having finalized a deep-sea mining code, raising the question of whether TMC would file a mining application as early as Monday. For decades, mining interests have eyed the ocean depths as a potential treasure chest of minerals including copper, nickel and cobalt, a prospect that has become even more tantalizing amid what is expected to be increasing demand.by the International Energy Association, for example, said the shift to clean energy is set to drive a “huge increase” in metal requirements, with the world on track for a doubling of overall mineral requirements by 2040.