Norway is moving forward with plans to open its Arctic seabed to mining for critical metals, including copper, cobalt, zinc and rare earths, which are vital for the green energy transition. The government aims to issue exploration licenses by 2025, with potential mining beginning by 2030. The minerals found in the seabed, particularly in sulfide deposits and manganese crusts, are crucial for technologies like batteries and wind turbines.
However, environmental groups like WWF and Greenpeace, as well as the fishing industry and some scientists, are raising alarms about the potential environmental damage. They warn that mining could harm fragile marine ecosystems, with impacts such as noise pollution and sediment plumes that could disrupt marine life. WWF is suing Norway, arguing that the environmental impact assessment used by the government lacks sufficient data to evaluate the consequences of deep-sea mining, as 99% of the Arctic seabed remains unexplored.
The mining area, located north of the Arctic Circle, covers 280,000 square kilometers between the Svalbard archipelago and Greenland. The region is home to unique and largely unexplored marine biodiversity. Scientists emphasize the need for more research to understand the area’s ecosystems before any mining begins, as species could go extinct before they are even discovered.
Green Minerals, a mining start-up, plans to mine inactive hydrothermal vents, avoiding active ones where most marine life thrives. The company is committed to minimizing environmental impact, with marine biologists involved in exploration. However, critics argue that even with precautions, deep-sea mining poses significant risks to the environment, and there is a growing call for a moratorium on such activities until more research is conducted.
While Norway sees the strategic importance of controlling these resources, environmental groups contend that future mineral demand could be met through recycling and alternative technologies. The International Seabed Authority, which oversees seabed mining in international waters, is still working on regulations, and several countries are urging a pause in deep-sea mining to allow for further study. WWF is awaiting a ruling on its lawsuit, with both sides prepared for potential appeals.
