In the quiet depths of the ocean, a revolution is brewing. A robot, equipped with a three-pronged claw and an AI-driven camera, recently demonstrated its ability to pluck polymetallic nodules from the seabed while avoiding marine life. This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie; it’s a glimpse into the future of deep-sea mining, a contentious yet potentially transformative industry. The test, conducted by Impossible Metals, showcased a system that could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of deep-sea mining, a process that has long been criticized for its potential to devastate delicate ecosystems.
Oliver Gunasekara, co-founder and CEO of Impossible Metals, is confident in the technology’s potential. “We felt that a vehicle that used AI to look for life and avoid it could have much less of an environmental footprint,” he explains. The robot’s 95% accuracy in detecting lifeforms and its speed-optimized arms suggest a more precise and less disruptive approach to deep-sea mining. However, the environmental impact of deep-sea mining remains a hotly debated topic. Jessica Battle, who leads the global no deep-seabed mining initiative at the WWF, argues that mining inherently removes the substrate of life in and on the deep seafloor, regardless of the technology used. The deep seabed, largely untouched and poorly understood, is a frontier that many scientists and environmentalists believe should be left undisturbed. John Childs at Lancaster University echoes this sentiment, stating, “If you’re not sure what’s down there, then leave it alone.”
The scars left by past mining experiments serve as a stark reminder of the potential damage. In 1979, deep-sea mining equipment left large tracks in the Pacific Ocean seabed, and these scars remain visible today. Wildlife has reportedly not fully recovered from the disturbance, highlighting the long-term impacts of such activities. The controversy surrounding deep-sea mining has already led to the downfall of companies like Nautilus Minerals, which sought to begin deep-sea mining in the late 2010s but went bankrupt in 2019 after facing protests and financial setbacks.
The metals found in polymetallic nodules—including manganese, nickel, cobalt, gold, and silver—are crucial for the green energy transition. Currently, these metals are sourced from land-based mines, which also have significant environmental impacts. The potential for deep-sea mining to reduce the need for land-based mining is a compelling argument for its proponents. However, the environmental risks and the lack of comprehensive regulations make the future of deep-sea mining uncertain. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is expected to publish the first set of international regulations governing these activities, possibly in July, which could pave the way for commercial deep-sea mining operations.
Impossible Metals is already building a larger version of its robot, capable of commercial-scale operations. The robot, housed in a 20-foot shipping container, will have 12 robot arms with grabbing claws. Gunasekara envisions “hundreds” of such bots harvesting the seabed simultaneously, bringing the nodules to a surface ship for processing. This approach, he claims, would lessen the impact on wildlife by reducing the need for a support ship to remain in a precise spot for extended periods, thereby minimizing engine noise.
Other companies are also developing innovative technologies for deep-sea mining. Jovana Jovanova at Delft University of Technology is working on a different robot arm system, emphasizing the need for technology that operates “in sync” with the environment. Seabed Solutions, a Norwegian firm, is developing a saw-based device to extract mineral-containing crusts, aiming to reduce sediment disturbance. The Metals Company, led by Gerard Barron, is working on a technique that involves scooping polymetallic nodules off the seabed and sending them to a support ship. Barron is optimistic about his company’s prospects, despite facing protests and lawsuits. He believes that the new Trump administration in the US may support his firm, given the company’s connections to the administration.
The environmental impact of deep-sea mining remains a contentious issue. Ann Vanreusel at Ghent University highlights that polymetallic nodules themselves are home to some creatures, which use them as a substrate. Even if mining machinery created zero sediment disturbance, pollution, and noise, removing nodules would still impact the ecosystem. The market for metals sought by deep-sea mining firms is also notoriously volatile, raising questions about the long-term viability of the industry. Lea Reitmeier at the London School of Economics suggests that the business case for deep-sea mining may not be as strong as some hope, given the supply shortages of certain minerals.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the future of deep-sea mining will shape the development of the mining sector