German industry imports metallic raw materials such as manganese, copper, nickel and cobalt from third countries. Against the background of highly volatile raw material prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions, in July 2006 BGR signed a contract with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in a 75,000 square kilometre contract area in the central northeast Pacific. The purpose of this exploration, which will be conducted in advance of potential industrial exploitation, is to help secure Germany's long-term supply of these critical raw materials.
The contract covers the exploration of the area for the spatial distribution of polymetallic nodules and the collection of environmental data. This includes detailed biodiversity assessments, seabed mapping, analysis of the geochemical composition and physical properties of the water and sediments, and the study of deep-sea bottom water currents. The aim of these environmental analyses is to understand the natural conditions and their spatial and temporal variability prior to any future exploitation. This knowledge is essential to assess and minimise potential impacts on the seabed and water column.
Since the contract was signed, BGR has conducted eleven research expeditions to the exploration area. In addition to exploring and evaluating the polymetallic nodule deposit, BGR is contributing its research findings to projects led by major marine science institutions in Germany. It has also participated in four European research projects focused on the development of deep-sea mining technologies and the assessment of environmental impacts: MIDAS, Blue Mining, JPI-O MiningImpact and Blue Nodules.
The BGR exploration cruise aboard the MV Island Pride in April/May 2021 – carried out in cooperation with scientists from the European MiningImpact project – was entirely dedicated to the scientific monitoring of the Patania II mining tests carried out by the Belgian company GSR. Similar monitoring efforts are planned for the coming years for the testing of the autonomous, AI-controlled Eureka III collector developed by the US-Canadian company Impossible Metals, which will take place in the BGR exploration area.
Literature
- Publikationen MANGAN
- ISA Contract for Exploration – Public Information Template. ACM/2019/03 (2023)
- Agreement on the Extension of the Contract for Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules between the International Seabed Authority and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany (2022)
- Agreement on Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules between the International Seabed Authority and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of the Federal Republic of Germany
- JPI-Oceans Mining Impact [European research project]