The high seas are not the “Wild West” of ecological transition minerals. We could summarize the message from the head of the International Authority of seabedeven if his language is obviously more diplomatic. A message aimed at several countries and firstly at United States.
Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho, at the head of the AIFM from 2024, hammers out the French Press Agencythat no single entity, no single country, no single investor has the right to profit from or exploit resources located in areas outside its jurisdiction ”.
Understood: neither the United States of Donald Trumpnor the Canadian company The Metals Company cannot go and comb the bottom of international waters in search of manganese, cobalt and nickel, on their own.
« I can imagine a considerable number of disputes“giving”many jurisdictions“if these projects were carried out, continues Leticia Carvalho. And this even if the United States is not part of the AIFM.
Faced with the appetite of other countries which could follow the United States, the head of the International Seabed Authority strongly calls on its members to come to an agreement, and hopes for the adoption of a “basic mining code », «Âthis year or the next ”.
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