Norway Set to Approve Commercial Deep-Sea Mining

In a world first, Norway opens its waters for lithium and cobalt extraction, potentially revolutionizing the global supply of minerals for clean technologies.

Norway is set to become the first country to allow commercial deep-sea mining, opening up 108,000 square miles of its national waters to lithium and cobalt licenses.
The move could revolutionize the global supply of minerals, which are pivotal for an array of clean technologies, including electric batteries.
Detailed environmental studies will have to be carried out before any mining can take place, potentially delaying extraction until the 2030s.
None of Norway’s 17 protected marine areas are included in the zones proposed for mining and every commercial license will have to be approved by parliament.
The move is in stark contrast with the approach taken by other countries like the UK and the European Union, who called for the practice to be temporarily banned.