The deep sea has become the latest frontier in the global race for critical minerals, with companies and governments eyeing the seabed’s vast deposits of commercially valuable resources, including cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper. At the forefront of this emerging industry is Canada-based firm The Metals Company (TMC), which has been aggressively pushing to launch deep-sea mining in international waters despite the absence of regulations. Other companies and pro-mining nations are following suit, developing plans to mine in both international and territorial waters.
While advocates argue that deep-sea mining could provide the minerals essential for the green transition and bolster national security, critics warn it could inflame geopolitical tensions and cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems. In collaboration with CNN, Mongabay journalist Elizabeth Claire Alberts investigates the key players and financiers driving this controversial and speculative industry, along with the shifting strategies companies are using to secure mining licenses and public acceptance.
