The Wealth Beneath the Ocean Floor: Potentials and Challenges

Abstract

The mining sector is integral to energy security and industrial growth. With growing issues of environmental degradation and scarcity of mineral deposits, many mining companies have started exploring more remote areas that can be technically challenging and less cost effective. While the deep seabed mining is increasingly seen as a potential solution to some of the limitations in traditional land-based mining. The growing interest in this sector is largely driven by the increasing global demand for these minerals, essential for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and electronic devices . This chapter explores the potential of deep seabed mining from the perspective of the Blue Economy. This chapter also discusses the issues and challenges of this activity regarding the Blue Growth and Blue Justice Concepts.