Last month marked two years since the country’s first seabed minerals exploration licences were issued on 23 February 2022. A major milestone and achievement for the Cook Islands after many years of preparation.
Read MoreYou can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.
The Cook Islands has just finished its second year exploring its ocean to see if deep sea mining can happen. The exploration phase - which will continue for about another three years - gives three companies access to the nations waters to see if mining is a viable option.
As part of the process companies need to review the environmental risks associated with the task. If the companies can prove mining is viable the government will award them a mining license.
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Cook Islands concludes public consultation for seabed mineral exploration guidelines, while the Prime Minister emphasises exploration’s potential for future prosperity and responsible resource extraction.
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OPINION: Precautionary principle and best practise should be rigorously applied when dealing with deep sea mining, and this is what local discussion should focus on.
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There is nothing to lose by giving out a few exploratory licenses, and much to gain in terms of knowledge on whether or not to go forward to actual mining.
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Demand for cobalt, and other metals for batteries used in mobile electronics and electric vehicles, is forecast to dramatically increase. A potential new source of minerals from the deep-sea could enter battery supply chains in under a decade.
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Applicants for exploratory licences for seabed mining will be put through a “rigorous” licensing process to ensure they will apply the best environmental practices, says Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown.
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“The gathering of scientific data and information will help improve our understanding of the biodiversity of the deep sea ecosystems and functions, and assist decision-makers in identifying the best measures to safeguard the marine environment.”
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“Government and civil society actually want the same thing – information. Although we need to make decisions based on science not speculation,” says Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown in response to calls for a moratorium on seabed minerals activity by international and local NGOs.
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