Critical Minerals: Opportunities in Deep Sea Mining to Secure Supply Chains
The Biden administration has issued new guidance on sourcing content in batteries eligible for electric vehicle tax credit, aiming to reduce reliance on materials from China while incentivizing American consumers and giving manufacturers time to clean their supply chains. The guidance will exempt certain critical minerals from designated countries until 2024 and 2025. This provides an opportunity for the US and trusted supplier countries to ramp up mining operations and establish a market for clean minerals. Deep sea mining, particularly in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, could offer new sources of critical minerals, but comes with regulatory challenges.
Source: Link
Frequently Asked Questions - Critical Minerals: Opportunities in Deep Sea Mining to Secure Supply Chains
1. What are the opportunities in deep sea mining for critical minerals?
Opportunities in deep sea mining for critical minerals include the potential to access a new and abundant source of minerals that are essential for modern technologies, including those required for renewable energy infrastructure. The deep sea bed is known to contain significant deposits of these critical minerals.
2. Why is there a need to identify new sources of critical mineral deposits?
The need to identify new sources of critical mineral deposits stems from supply chain challenges. The U.S. and its allies are looking for reliable and sustainable sources of these minerals to reduce dependence on geopolitically sensitive regions and to meet the growing demand for technology and clean energy development.
3. What are the challenges associated with deep sea mining?
Deep sea mining presents several challenges including the need for advanced technology and engineering capabilities to extract resources from the deep ocean floor. Additionally, there are environmental and regulatory considerations, as well as the need to align operations with supply chain partners and stakeholders.
4. How does deep sea mining relate to renewable energy infrastructure?
Deep sea mining is related to renewable energy infrastructure in that it could provide a stable supply of critical minerals needed for manufacturing various components of renewable energy systems, such as batteries for energy storage and magnets for wind turbines.
5. What legal and regulatory developments are affecting deep sea mining?
Legal and regulatory developments include the awarding of integrated licenses for mineral exploration and potential exploitation in the deep sea. However, these developments may also lead to complexities, as global and national regulations for deep sea mining are still evolving.
6. Are there environmental concerns with deep sea mining?
Yes, there are significant environmental concerns associated with deep sea mining. Potential impacts on deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and disruption of seabed habitats are some of the key environmental challenges that need to be addressed.
For further details and updates on deep sea mining for critical minerals and related supply chain information, you may refer to JD Supra's articles through their website at JD Supra.