The Metals Company USA (TMC USA), a subsidiary of TMC the metals company Inc. has formally filed an application with U.S. authorities for a commercial reclamation permit and two exploration licenses linked to subsea mining.
This action is being taken under the framework of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) and the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) regulatory code.
Subsea mining in the CCZ
The submitted application covers an area of 25,160 km² in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), more than 2,400 km south of San Diego, a region known for its abundance of polymetallic nodules.
Together, the areas proposed by TMC USA contain approximately 1.635 million wet tons with additional potential of 500 million, equivalent to 15.5 million tons of nickel, 12.8 million tons of copper, 2.0 million tons of cobalt and 345 million tons of manganese, according to SEC SK 1300 standards.
Political support and regulatory tensions
The announcement comes 10 days after an executive order issued from the White House that directs expediting marine mining permits to strengthen the domestic supply chain. This measure also proposes to evaluate the use of the National Defense Stockpile as a mechanism to secure these critical resources.
The strategy is presented as a direct alternative to the lengthy international negotiation processes led by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), especially relevant because the US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Accumulated technical and scientific fundamentals
With more than a decade of investment in marine engineeringenvironmental science and remediation technology, TMC has consolidated an industrial platform capable of operating with low impact.
The company claims that its nodule harvester disturbs only the first three centimeters of the seabed, and has committed to leaving 30% of the areas undisturbed.
Economic potential at stake
This move seeks not only to ensure access to essential metals for the energy transition, but also to activate a new industrial chain in the U.S., with the potential to mobilize private investment in sectors such as port infrastructureport infrastructure, metallurgical processing and advanced manufacturing.
NOAA must respond within 30 to 60 days on the preliminary validity of the applications and subsequently initiate a full environmental and technical evaluation.
With this application, TMC USA seeks to position the United States as a world leader in responsible ocean mining. The company has committed more than $500 million in R&D, reinforcing its strategic commitment to develop the first commercial nodule operation on the planet, aligned with national regulations and advanced scientific standards.
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Source and photo: The Metals Company
