Norway has announced a suspension of its contentious initiative to permit large-scale deep-sea mining within its waters, which aimed to allow mining on an extensive 280,000 square kilometers (over 108,000 square miles), a space larger than the United Kingdom. This decision arose after pressure from the Socialist Left Party, which announced it would withdraw support for the government’s budget if the first licensing round scheduled for 2025 was not canceled.
Environmental scientists previously warned against the potential degradation of marine ecosystems that could result from such activities, a sentiment echoed by 32 countries including key players like France, Brazil, Canada, and Germany. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoer characterized the recent developments as merely a "postponement," asserting that preparatory work focusing on environmental regulations would continue.
Environmental advocates celebrated this pause, with Greenpeace Norway's Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle labeling it "a huge victory" for marine conservation. Many have criticized Norway for positioning itself as a leader in ocean sustainability while simultaneously endorsing practices that jeopardize marine environments.
Norway was a pioneer in this arena, being the first nation to initiate plans for commercial deep-sea mining in January, amid growing global demand for minerals such as lithium, scandium, and cobalt that play a crucial role in green technology production. Despite the potential economic benefits, Oslo's intentions were met with skepticism from the EU and the UK, both of which have urged for a temporary halt on deep-sea mining.
A group of over 100 EU lawmakers responded to Norway's initial plans by urging the country to reconsider, citing threats to marine biodiversity and potential contributions to climate change. Moreover, Norway's Institute of Marine Research raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the government's environmental impact research, insisting that an additional five to ten years of study were necessary.
Adding to the tension, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Norway has announced plans to sue the government over its seabed mining propositions. In light of the suspension, at least three Norwegian mineral startups were prepared to engage in the first licensing, yet one of them, Green Minerals, has now anticipated a delay of up to a year due to the recent halt.
