Chinese scientific research ship Haiyang 6 returns to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, after completing its deep sea exploration on Oct 23, 2019.[Photo/Xinhua]
China will pay more attention to the research and development of techniques and equipment used for deep-sea mining, according to a senior researcher in the country's shipbuilding industry.
"Deep-sea mining has become a new frontier of international competition on science, technology, resources and industries, because there are a lot of polymetallic nodules on ocean floors that contain rich concentrations of nickel, copper, manganese and cobalt that are essential to the renewable energy industry," said Ye Cong, deputy director of the China Ship Scientific Research Center in Jiangsu province's Wuxi.
"A large proportion of the metals I mentioned, which are extensively used at Chinese factories, needs to be imported.
Mining them from seabed will help us reduce the heavy reliance on foreign suppliers," said Ye, who is a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Internationally, some Western nations have owned key technologies and the capability of manufacturing major hardware required in deep-sea mining and at least one company has launched experimental commercial mining operations expected to retrieve thousands of metric tons of ores each day.
However, China lags behind in terms of knowledge, technology and hardware, which highlights the importance of government attention and investment.
"We are facing several difficulties and challenges.
First, it is hard to bring the ores from a depth of several thousands of meters.
We need a reliable, powerful system consisting of pumps and tubes that can bring the mixture of seawater and extracted ores to ships" he explained.
"Second, we must thoroughly study the possible impact on deep-sea ecosystems and make sure that our solution can protect the marine environment and biodiversity.
Also we need to figure out an economical, sustainable approach to mine from ocean floors otherwise we will not be able to afford it."
Ye's center is a subsidiary of the State-owned conglomerate China State Shipbuilding Corp and is known for its deep-sea submersibles like the Jiaolong, or Sea Dragon, and Shenhai Yongshi, or Deep-Sea Warrior.
According to him, previous scientific dives by the Jiaolong and Shenhai Yongshi have enabled researchers to carry out some preparatory work for deep-sea mining.
Hu Zhen, a senior researcher at the Wuxi center and also a 14th CPPCC National Committee member, said that exploration and development of oceans have become a significant topic of science and technology, and are closely related to safeguarding a nation's marine interests and its international status.
He urged the government to speed up its review and approval procedures for major deep-sea hardware's research and development and also accelerate the implementation of the deep-sea station project.
Ye and Hu were speaking on the sidelines of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, which closed in Beijing on Saturday.
Links :
- EJFoundation : How the rush to deep-sea mining threatens people and our planet
- The Guardian : Deep-sea mining for rare metals will destroy ecosystems, say scientists / Row erupts over deep-sea mining as world races to finalise vital regulations
- The Verge : The race for more battery materials could cause ‘irreversible’ damage under the sea
- Greenpeace : Greenpeace confronts deep sea mining expedition in the Pacific Ocean
- NYTimes : A Rush to Mine the Deep Sea Is Underway. It Must Be Stopped
- BBC : The looming threat of deep-sea mining
- Climate Home News : High Seas Treaty exempts deep-sea mining from stricter environmental rules
- Wired : The Mining Industry’s Next Frontier Is Deep, Deep Under the Sea
- Mining : China to step up deep sea mining efforts / Diving for Metals: Visualizing Deep Sea Mining
- Politico : The uncharted waters of deep-sea mining
- The Hill : China’s maritime strategy: To own the oceans by adverse possession
- GeoGarage blog : Is deep-sea mining a cure for the climate crisis or a curse? / Deep-sea mining to turn oceans into 'new industrial frontier' / Deep-sea mining could start in two years after Pacific ... / Race to the bottom: the disastrous blindfolded rush to mine ... / Mining the deep ocean will soon begin / The secret on the ocean floor : deep-sea mining / Renewables' deep-sea mining conundrum / Electric car future may depend on deep sea mining / Will ocean seabed mining delay the discovery of potential ... / How will China's submersibles help us explore the ocean ... / Deep sea mining licences issued
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