The Davos organiser says prospective deep-sea miners are using the electric vehicle and renewable energy industry demand cases to push for more access to seafloors. Deep-sea mining is still far from commercial, but big players including Lockheed Martin are funding exploration work and testing.
“For once we have the opportunity to engage and contribute to opinions on whether and how deep-sea minerals are developed before the industry has begun in earnest,” said TDI Sustainability chief executive Assheton Stewart Carter, who contributed to the WEF report and issued the warning around project risk.