Cook Islands Weighs Extension of Deep-Sea Mining Exploration Licenses

The Cook Islands government is considering an extension of its deep-sea mining exploration licenses. Currently, the country is three-and-a-half years into a five-year exploration phase, which may be crucial for determining the future of mining activities in the region. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has made it clear that any potential mining operations must demonstrate their ability to avoid causing serious environmental harm.

Edward Herman, the SBMA’s partnerships and cooperation director, noted that the extension of the exploration phase is under consideration. He stated, “There is a likelihood of [the exploration license] being extended because if we cannot get the data within the next year and a half, it’s very likely that we’ll need to extend it.” The challenge lies not only with the license holders but also with the agency itself as it strives to regulate and monitor activities effectively.

Baseline data is essential for making informed decisions regarding potential mining. Herman emphasized the necessity of gathering sufficient information before moving forward. “We need baseline data to make an ethical, informed, science-based decision, so if the data is not available, we will require more data,” he said.

The urgency of the situation is echoed by Hans Smit, the chief executive officer of deep-sea mining company Moana Minerals. He asserts that an extension is “definitely” required for his company, given the current timeline for assessing environmental and mining license applications. “If I were to submit tomorrow, I wouldn’t have an answer before my exploration license expired,” Smit explained.

Looking ahead, Smit remains optimistic about the industry’s prospects. He suggests that if all goes according to plan, mining could commence as early as 2028 or 2029. “It’s not a question of if we go mining, it’s a question of when we go mining,” he stated. Smit further noted that preliminary studies have not revealed significant biodiversity concerns that would impede operations. “We haven’t run into any massive abundance of animals that could create a problem,” he added.

Despite this optimism, the need for comprehensive data remains a sticking point. Smit indicated that while there is enough information to consider moving forward with mining, additional data over time is necessary to ensure that initial conclusions are not outliers.

Concerns regarding the environmental implications of deep-sea mining are voiced by June Hosking, president of the environmental NGO Te Ipukarea Society. She appreciates the exploration efforts but worries that the focus may lean too heavily towards commercial viability rather than ecological impact. “I personally think if they do honest exploration, they would discover it’s not a good idea to mine, as it’s going to do too much damage to the environment,” Hosking remarked.

In terms of preparatory work, Moana Minerals has reportedly mapped 15 percent of the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone and recorded over 100 hours of data on seabed nodules. Smit confirmed that the design of the mining system is complete, and the specific vessel for mining operations has been identified. “What we are waiting for is at what point do we decide to pull the trigger and start doing that work,” he noted.

On the processing front, Smit revealed that the company has developed its own metal extraction process, which has been validated on a laboratory scale. The next step involves testing whether the nodules can be processed at a higher capacity.

As the Cook Islands navigates this complex decision-making process, the balance between economic development and environmental stewardship remains paramount.