Deep Sea Mining Project Loses its Big Corporate Backer

Several nations are increasingly advocating for delaying seabed mining for electric vehicle battery metals, as Lockheed Martin Corp., a significant player in deep-sea mining, exits the emerging industry.

Lockheed’s UK subsidiary, UK Seabed Resources, was recently sold to the Norwegian startup Loke Marine Minerals, just as the United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority (ISA) began a session to establish rules for deep-sea mining, potentially starting in 2024. Tensions are rising as scientists, legal experts, and activists accuse the ISA Secretariat of pushing a pro-mining agenda. Some member states, including the UK, have expressed concerns over environmental risks and insufficient scientific data about deep-sea ecosystems targeted for exploitation.

As ISA proceedings began, the UK confirmed Lockheed’s departure from seabed mining, with the sale of UK Seabed Resources at an undisclosed price. Lockheed had held licenses since 2013 to explore the seabed for cobalt, nickel, and other metals used in electric vehicle batteries. Its withdrawal leaves no major Western company with the financial resources to launch seabed mining operations, which are expected to require billions of dollars in investment.

The ISA meeting comes amidst growing demand for these metals, just two weeks after 193 countries reached an agreement to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Calls for a delay or ban on seabed mining focus on the lack of adequate scientific knowledge regarding deep-sea ecosystems. During the meeting, UK delegate Gavin Watson declared that the UK would not support any mining licenses unless there was sufficient evidence of the environmental impact.

Accredited observers at the meeting reported being threatened with expulsion for taking photos or videos of the proceedings, highlighting concerns over the transparency of the ISA's actions. Greenpeace USA’s lead on deep-sea mining, Arlo Hemphill, recounted being warned against recording, while international lawyer Duncan Currie observed ISA staff instructing observers to stop using their phones.

The ISA responded by clarifying that only accredited media are permitted to take photos or videos during meetings. However, criticism continued, with some nations, such as Costa Rica, questioning the neutrality of the ISA Secretariat. Costa Rican Ambassador Gina Guillén Grillo emphasized that decisions on seabed mining should not be driven by administrative bodies but by member states.

The ISA was established by a UN treaty in 1994 to regulate seabed industrialization and protect marine environments. Since 2001, the Authority has issued exploration contracts to state-backed projects and private companies covering over 500,000 square miles of the seabed in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Every contractor must be sponsored by an ISA member country, which is responsible for ensuring environmental compliance.

However, investigations have revealed close relationships between the ISA Secretariat and mining companies, raising concerns about impartiality. ISA Secretary-General Michael Lodge has downplayed the environmental risks of seabed mining and criticized media coverage. In 2021, Nauru, a small Pacific island nation, invoked a clause requiring the ISA to finalize mining regulations within two years.

France, Germany, Spain, Costa Rica, and several Pacific nations have since called for a moratorium or delay on seabed mining, while others, including Brazil, Belgium, and Switzerland, have signaled they would not support mining contracts without robust environmental protections. Indigenous representatives from the Pacific have also voiced concerns, calling for a halt to deep-sea mining to prevent irreparable damage to marine ecosystems.