Norway has taken a historic step by approving seabed mining, becoming the first nation to authorize this activity for commercial-scale operations. The move is highly anticipated by companies seeking critical minerals used in electric batteries, solar panels, and certain pharmaceuticals, yet it raises deep concerns among scientists and environmentalists who warn about potential environmental impacts on the sea floor.
The Norwegian parliament gave its approval on a Tuesday for mineral exploration across a vast Arctic seabed region. This decision came after a government agreement with major opposition parties, despite protests from environmental activists who fear lasting damage to marine ecosystems.
Critical minerals for the energy transition
With this political decision, Norway aims to lead the way in turning deep-sea mining into a commercial reality. The minerals targeted are essential for energy conversion and green technologies. Yet worries about environmental consequences linger, prompting ongoing debate about safeguards and long term effects.
Despite strong interest from many firms to begin mining in various parts of the world, no operating permits have been issued yet. Dozens of drilling permits exist in other contexts, and Spain is among the countries voicing strong opposition to underwater mining.
There is no fixed timeline for when exploration might start. The plan is to award exclusive exploration rights to winning companies for specific areas, with potential extraction following, according to Reuters.
The process will follow the framework used for Norway’s oil and gas exploration. A political official noted that issues such as taxes would be discussed later as exploration proceeds.
“Now we will see whether this can be done sustainably, and that is the step we are taking now,” said Energy Minister Terje Aasland in parliament.
The revised government proposal tightens environmental requirements beyond what was originally planned in the exploration phase.
Confrontation with the EU
The measure places Norway at odds with the European Union and the United Kingdom, which have called for a temporary ban on the practice amid concerns about potential serious environmental damage.
Techniques for collecting minerals from the seabed, along with substantial noise and light pollution, raise concerns about impacts on living spaces. The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that many organisms depend on seabed nodules, underscoring ecological stakes.
In November, a group of 120 European Union Members of Parliament sent an open letter urging Norway to reject the project due to risks to marine biodiversity and potential acceleration of climate change. The letter also pointed to gaps in Norway’s impact assessment, according to reporting by the BBC.
Norway faces critique not only from external observers but also from its own experts. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has argued that the government based its assumptions on a small survey area and extrapolated them to a much larger planned drilling zone. It is suggested that five to ten more years of research are needed to assess effects on marine life.
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Contact information for the environmental department has been removed.