TMC the metals company Inc. announced that its U.S. subsidiary's "USA B" exploration license application has been formally certified by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This certification is a key regulatory milestone under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, allowing NOAA to proceed with preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed exploration activities.

Key Details

  • Application Area: The "USA B" application covers approximately 122,000 km² of seafloor containing an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules.
  • Mineral Resource: The nodules are reported to have high grades of nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese, as well as several rare earth elements.
  • Regulatory Next Steps: NOAA will now begin preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will be followed by a public comment period and then a final determination on the issuance of the exploration license.