Environmental Concerns Halt Norway’s Plans for Seabed Mining
Norwegian study finds significant amount of minerals, including copper and rare earth elements, on seabed.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) carried out the study.
Norway is considering allowing deep-sea mining to access the minerals.
Deep-sea mining needs consent from parliament and raises environmental concerns.
Other metals found include magnesium, niobium, cobalt, and critical minerals specified by the European Commission.
Valuable minerals, such as neodymium and dysprosium, are crucial components in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Environmental organizations are calling for a comprehensive examination of the impact on seabed life before mining begins.
Norway's Institute of Marine Research says the depths of the ocean remain largely unexplored and new species may still be discovered.
More research is needed to determine recoverable amount of minerals while minimizing impact on the environment.
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