Deep sea mining, what is the controversial race to the ocean floor in which Italy would also like to participate

The interests of Saipem and Fincantieri in extracting minerals from the depths of the oceans and the European front calling for a moratorium.The Italian government does not close but is pushing for precaution

The ecological transition first and foremost needs new raw materials.And the race to grab them risks moving into the darkest and most unexplored depths of our planet:the ocean floors.It is there that several countries and companies around the world would like to create a huge new industry:The Deep sea mining, or the extraction of metals and other materials from the ocean floor.A practice that has unleashed a wave of indignation and criticism not only from the main environmental associations, but also from the scientific community.If nothing else, as a matter of principle:why go looking for the so-called critical raw materials – all those materials considered indispensable for the energy transition – in one of the very few pristine habitats left on Earth?Recently, this question also ended up on the table of the International Seabed Authority (AIFM), the UN agency responsible for regulating activities on the seabed and ocean floor.At the last meeting which took place in July in Kingston, Jamaica, a clash took place between those who would like to finally give the green light to commercial exploration - effectively opening up the exploitation of the resources deposited on the seabed - and those who advocate prevent the birth of a new (yet another) polluting industry.

Pichetto Fratin's evaluation

So far, Italy has not expressed an official position on this issue, although the signs seem to point decidedly in one direction.«One of the many challenges that await us is the race for the underwater world and the geological resources of the seabed – said the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a few weeks ago speaking at the “Risorsa Mare” Forum in Trieste -.A new domain in which Italy intends to play a leading role."Now he is the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin to better outline the position of the Italian government.«Italy – the ministry informs Open – is convinced of the need to promptly apply the "precautionary principle" in relation to the commercial exploitation of the mineral resources present in the seabed (so-called deep sea mining) to prevent and avoid possible serious and irreparable environmental damage to biodiversity, ecosystems and possible marine pollution".In short, we can talk about deep-sea mining.Provided however, Mase specifies, that "adequate knowledge of the environmental impact of such activities" is achieved and "a solid regulatory regime" is adopted.

The race to the abyss

The mining industry's interest in the seabed dates back to the 1960s.It was in that period that some scientific articles spoke for the first time of the possibility of starting mining in deep seas, where according to experts there were almost unlimited supplies of "polymetallic nodules" containing large quantities of cobalt, nickel and other materials.In 1994, the ISA, the United Nations body founded to supervise all activities connected to the minerals present in the international seabed, came into operation.Since then, around thirty exploration licenses have been issued, but the ISA has never agreed to commercial exploitation.At least for now.In recent years, in fact, some countries and mining companies - first of all, the Canadian The Metals Company - have intensified the pressure to obtain the green light for extraction activities.A hypothesis that environmentalist associations want to avoid at all costs.«We find ourselves in a crucial historical moment:we can stop an extractive industry before it starts.It would be like going back in time to prevent the birth of the oil industry", comments Francesca Vespasiani of Greenpeace International.

Environmental risks

Rekindling interest in the potential of the seabed is the process triggered by the ecological transition, which will bring demand for certain materials - the so-called critical raw materials – to grow exponentially.There's just one problem:the ocean floor is among the very few pristine habitats on Earth and we have no idea what consequences it would have deep sea mining on the marine ecosystem.«The environmental risks are enormous – explains Vespasiani –.But even faced with the lack of knowledge of the possible consequences, there are some governments ready to give the green light.Many marine species that we know nothing about but which we are already ready to sacrifice."The loss of biodiversity is certainly the main negative consequence of deep-sea mining.But she's not the only one.Other risks cited by environmental associations and experts also include noise pollution, light pollution and social damage for the populations of the Pacific Ocean - it is there that the industry has directed its attention - whose livelihood depends on fishing.«In the areas where the first tests were carried out, very high shortages of fish were recorded – adds the Greenpeace activist –.Not to mention the fact that the ocean floor is a fragile environment:their reproduction rates are very slow."

The international deployments

The last Aifm assembly, which took place in July in Jamaica, was preceded by numerous protests from environmental movements.What many expected was the adoption of a mining codes, a regulation that would effectively represent the first step towards the subsequent granting of the first commercial licenses.In the end, however, things went differently.«The failure to approve the mining codes it was an important victory – comments Vespasiani –.The number of states that are taking a stand is growing day by day."What the environmental associations are asking for is a moratorium on deep sea mining, which in the long term could turn into an outright ban on deep-sea mining.A request on which several countries have expressed themselves favorably, including:France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, Portugal.Also the European Commission and the European Parliament they voted in favor of a moratorium.Sitting on the opposite side of the table, and pushing for the green light for mining, is above all Norway.With Russia, China and the United States which have not taken an official position but - specifies Vespasiani - «have expressed themselves several times in favor of the deep sea mining».

The position of Italy

And Italy?Within the Aifm, our country plays a leading role and is part - together with China, Russia and Japan - of the group of «large consumers».Until now, the Italian government had never taken an official position, but Prime Minister Meloni's words at the Trieste Forum seemed to make it clear that Italy also had every intention of booking a ticket in the race towards the abyss.Now, responding to a request for comment from Open, it is the Ministry of the Environment that clarifies the executive's position.«In international forums – Mase reports – Italy supports the need to condition the start of mineral exploitation activities on the achievement of adequate knowledge of the environmental impact of such activities and the adoption of a solid regulatory regime that discipline it."

The role of Saipem and Fincantieri

No support for the moratorium, therefore, which according to the ministry "would not help the objective of safeguarding and protecting the marine environment, instead risking undermining the very effectiveness of the international instrument competent to regulate these activities".Rather, Italy insists that in mining codes "high guarantees of protection of the marine environment" and transparency for the operating companies are included.And speaking of companies, there are already two Italian names that have set their sights on the new industry of the ocean floor.It's about Saipem and Fincantieri, who signed a memorandum of understanding to analyze potential market developments.Yet, Vespasiani insists, the Italian government's position risks being extremely contradictory.«Italy is among the countries that have signed the UN treaty for the protection of the oceans – recalls the activist -.You cannot claim to protect the oceans and at the same time consider the deep sea mining.They are two things that cannot go together."

Cover photo credits:Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)