Deep-sea mining is accelerating; TMC expects formal approval before Q1 2027! The U.S. advances commercial licensing.

This image shows polymetallic nodules on the deep-sea floor of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Captured by the ROV KIEL 6000 during the FS SONNE’s SO239 expedition in April 2015, the manganese nodules are scattered across the seabed and rich in multiple minerals—commonly regarded as a potential deep-sea resource. © GEOMAR Bilddatenbank (CC BY-SA 4.0) Approx. 1,500 words; ~4-minute read Produced by Hai Chao Tian Xia According to reports published by Reuters and other media outlets in early May 2026, deep-sea mining company The Metals Company (TMC) recently announced that the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed its integrated application for deep-sea mineral exploration and commercial mining complies with federal regulatory requirements. This signals that the U.S. initiative to advance commercial deep-sea mining has entered a more substantive phase of regulatory review. TMC stated that the entire regulatory process—including environmental review—is expected to conclude before Q1 2027. If ultimately approved, the company could become one of the world’s first enterprises to enter commercial deep-sea mining. Per TMC’s disclosures, the application was submitted by its U.S. subsidiary under the U.S. Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. NOAA determined that the submitted materials meet all statutory procedural and technical requirements. ▲ Above: This new regulation, issued and effective January 21, 2026, by NOAA, represents a major modernization update to the decades-old Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) implementing rules. Its core innovation is the introduction of a ‘consolidated application’ mechanism, allowing qualified U.S. companies to combine exploration permits and commercial mining applications into a single submission—and authorizing them to directly reference environmental and geological data collected during the exploration phase to support mining approvals. This revision aims to implement the U.S. strategic priority of accelerating access to critical mineral resources by streamlining administrative procedures and eliminating redundant reviews, thereby significantly shortening the market-entry timeline for U.S. enterprises conducting deep-sea mining in international waters. Source: federalregister.gov In recent years, surging global demand for critical metals—including nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt—has been driven by rapid growth in new-energy industries and high-end manufacturing. These metals are widely used in lithium-ion batteries, electronics…

The U.S. is reportedly planning illegal deep-sea rare-earth mining—Is this plan feasible? What challenges does it face? How vital are rare earths to the U.S.?

Some argue that approval from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is required—but predictably, Trump responded, 'We will not wait for your permission!' Act fast! On April 24, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14285, titled 'Unleashing American Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.' This order is highly consequential: its purpose is to accelerate federal permitting for deep-sea mining—not only within U.S. waters but also in international waters—marking a major strategic shift in America’s approach to securing critical minerals. Can rare-earth restrictions be so easily circumvented? A joke! Enough preamble—here’s a serious analysis: 1. The U.S. (and Trump) is serious. Trump signed EO 14285 on April 24, and it was published in the Federal Register (90 FR 17735) on April 29. Its primary goal is to position the U.S. as the global leader in deep-sea mineral development. Key provisions include: • Streamlining permitting: Simplifying approval processes to expedite exploration, characterization, collection, and processing of deep-sea mineral resources—without compromising environmental standards or transparency. • Supporting investment: Increasing funding for deep-sea scientific research, mapping, and technological innovation. • Enhancing interagency coordination: Strengthening collaboration among U.S. federal departments and agencies to effectively execute functions related to deep-sea mineral development. • Establishing global leadership: Positioning the U.S. as the global leader in responsible deep-sea mineral exploration, development technologies, and best practices—and fostering cooperation with nations developing deep-sea mineral resources within their national jurisdictions. • Building domestic supply chains: Developing robust domestic supply chains to drive economic growth, enable reindustrialization, and strengthen national defense readiness. • Strengthening partnerships: Collaborating closely with allies and industry to counter China’s growing influence over deep-sea mineral resources. The executive order further directs several federal agencies—including the Departments of Commerce, Interior, Defense, and Energy, as well as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Trade and Development Agency—to take concrete actions promoting deep-sea mining activities within 60 days—by June 23, 2025. Trump’s executive order…

US Aims to Issue Deep-Sea Mining Permits Within Months, Interior Secretary Burgum Says

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The Trump administration signals imminent approval of deep-sea mining permits to secure critical mineral supply chains. Interior Secretary Burgum highlighted polymetallic nodules vital for EVs and electronics as domestic production ramps up amid Chinese export restrictions.

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US Aims to Issue Deep-Sea Mining Permits Within Months, Interior Secretary Burgum Says

US Aims to Issue Deep-Sea Mining Permits Within Months, Interior Secretary Burgum Says

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