context: Beijing sees the 'blue economy' as key to boosting its maritime power, with seabed mining for strategic resources like rare earths playing a central role. However, the PRC lacks deep-sea mining technology, relying heavily on foreign expertise and equipment. The 2016 Seabed Law provides a framework to address this, including supporting research labs.
The PRC still lacks the equipment needed for full-fledged seabed trials, according to a paper lead-authored by Wan Buyan 万步炎 Hunan University of Science and Technology National-local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Safety of Marine Mineral Resources director.
Developing deep-sea mining equipment and technology is crucial for unlocking deep-sea mineral resources and addressing global resource supply challenges, they emphasise.
As seabed activities worldwide shift from exploration to exploitation, Wan et al. suggest the PRC should prioritise
- research tailored to specific mining areas, such as
- polymetallic nodules
- cobalt-rich crusts
- polymetallic sulphides
- deep-sea rare earth minerals
- development of efficient, safe and green mining equipment with a focus on
- ultra-deep waters
- multi-terrain adaptability
- low disturbance
- safety and reliability
- system-wide coordination
- self-reliance, including in
- green extraction
- safe ore lifting
- coordinated safety support
- environmental assessment
These progresses are strategically important for building a maritime power, the authors argue.