Past Event: “Critical Minerals from the Sea”
“Critical Minerals from the Sea”
Tuesday, July 17, 10:00AM to Noon
1111 19th Street NW, 12th Floor
(near the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stops)
Ronald Reagan, before he became president, spoke with passion about the potential of a US seabed mining industry that could free the US economy from uncertain sources of supply of critical minerals. Now, nearly 35 years after Reagan’s commentary, the world appears on the verge of achieving his vision – but without the United States.
There are currently 12 national and private operations engaged in the exploration of mineral deposits on the sea floor beyond national jurisdiction. Five new applications will be considered next week at the annual session of the International Seabed Authority. Of the seven nations visited by Donald Rumsfeld in 1982 in an effort to deter them from signing the Law of the Sea Convention, three (Japan, Germany and France) already have contracts of exploration with the ISA and two more (Belgium and the United Kingdom) have new applications awaiting review. Of the seven states on the Rumsfeld mission, only Italy and the Netherlands lack an exploration contract or an application for one.
What accounts for this upswing in attention by industrial economies? Is it:
- The economic potential of seabed mining?
- Secure supplies of Critical Minerals, including cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements? or,
- A first step in developing a new deep ocean technology industry?
Join the event on Tuesday, July 17 at the Stimson Center to learn the answers to these and other questions when they feature experts in marine minerals and geology, seabed mining technology and economics and strategic and critical materials policy.
Presentations and Discussion on
Critical Minerals from the Sea: U.S. Interests in Deep Seabed Minerals
Dr. James Hein, US Geological Survey
Dr. Miles Libbey, SeaMinr
Caitlyn Antrim, Rule of Law Committee for the Oceans
Moderator: BGen Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret)
CEO, The American Security Project
Join us on the morning of Tuesday, July 17th:
“Critical Minerals from the Sea”
Tuesday, July 17, 10:00AM to Noon
The Stimson Center
1111 19th Street NW, 12th Floor
(near the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stops)
You can register for the event with an e-mail to <criticalminerals@oceanlaw.org>
