Navigating the uncertainty: financial, technological, and geopolitical risks in deep-sea mining ventures

Abstract

Deep-sea mining (DSM) involves extracting minerals from ocean depths exceeding 200 meters, focusing on resources like hydrothermal vents, ferromanganese crusts, and polymetallic nodules [1]. These resources are rich in valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and man-ganese, which are essential for technologies like electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy systems. For instance, as depicted in Figure 1, the electric vehicle market is expected to expand rapidly, leading to an increased need for essential minerals. While the DSM offers an exceptional opportunity to access the minerals, it also raises significant concerns about marine ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and potential conflicts with other marine resource users [3]. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is currently developing regulations to manage DSM, aiming to balance resource extraction with environmental protection.