TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC): Análise de Pestle [Jan-2025 Atualizado]

Nas profundezas dos oceanos do mundo, encontra-se um potencial transformador de extração de recursos sustentáveis, onde a TMC The Metals Company Inc. fica na vanguarda da inovação de mineração em mar. Navegando pelas complexas interseções de avanço tecnológico, mordomia ambiental e mudanças econômicas globais, o TMC está pronto para revolucionar como obtemos metais críticos de bateria crítica para a revolução energética renovável. Esta análise abrangente de pestles revela o cenário multifacetado de desafios e oportunidades que definem a jornada estratégica da empresa para as fronteiras inexploradas da exploração mineral oceânica.

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Políticos

Navegando estruturas regulatórias de mineração de profundidade do complexo

Em 2023, a International Seabed Authority (ISA) relatou 30 contratos de exploração para a extração mineral de profundidade, com a TMC mantendo um contrato de exploração específico na zona Clarion-Clipperton.

Órgão regulatório	Jurisdição	Número de contratos ativos
Autoridade internacional do fundo do mar	Águas internacionais	30
Nações da Ilha do Pacífico	Zonas econômicas exclusivas	5

Potenciais tensões geopolíticas em torno dos direitos de extração mineral no fundo do mar

A partir de 2024, 12 países têm disputas marítimas ativas potencialmente impactando os territórios de mineração em mar profundo.

• Reivindicações marítimas dos Estados Unidos nas regiões do Pacífico
• Afransivas afirmações territoriais marítimas da China
• Intervenções regulatórias marítimas da União Europeia

Confiança em políticas governamentais favoráveis ​​para exploração de mineração em mar profundo

A exploração do TMC depende de estruturas governamentais de apoio em várias jurisdições.

País	Nível de suporte regulatório	Status da permissão de exploração
Nauru	Alto	Aprovado
Ilhas cozinheiras	Médio	Pendente

Susceptibilidade a mudanças nos regulamentos marítimos internacionais

Em 2023, 17 Emendas regulatórias marítimas internacionais impactaram diretamente os protocolos de mineração do mar profundo.

• Cláusulas de proteção ambiental
• Requisitos de conservação da biodiversidade
• Diretrizes de extração sustentável

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores econômicos

Preços voláteis de mercadorias para metais de bateria

Os preços à vista de níquel flutuaram entre US $ 14.500 e US $ 21.500 por tonelada métrica em 2023. Os preços do cobalto variaram de US $ 33.000 a US $ 40.000 por tonelada métrica durante o mesmo período.

Metal	Faixa de preço 2023 ($/METRIC TON)	Volatilidade anual de preços
Níquel	$14,500 - $21,500	32.7%
Cobalto	$33,000 - $40,000	19.4%

Investimento de capital para tecnologia de mineração profunda

TMC relatou US $ 78,4 milhões em despesas totais de capital para o desenvolvimento de tecnologia de mineração de profundidade em 2023.

Potencial perturbação econômica em cadeias de suprimentos de metal

Métrica da cadeia de suprimentos	Valor atual
Tamanho global do mercado de metais de bateria	US $ 86,5 bilhões
Taxa de crescimento do mercado projetada	13,2% CAGR
Deslocamento potencial da cadeia de suprimentos	7.6%

Dependência de veículos elétricos e mercado de energia renovável

Vendas globais de veículos elétricos alcançados 13,6 milhões de unidades Em 2023, representando 18% do total de vendas globais de veículos.

Segmento de mercado	2023 Tamanho do mercado	Crescimento projetado
Mercado de veículos elétricos	US $ 388 bilhões	21,7% CAGR
Investimentos de energia renovável	US $ 495 bilhões	15,4% CAGR

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores sociais

Crescente conscientização pública sobre extração de recursos sustentáveis

De acordo com uma pesquisa do Centro de Pesquisa de Pew 2023, 67% dos entrevistados globais expressaram preocupação com as práticas sustentáveis ​​de extração de recursos. O setor de mineração marinha viu especificamente um aumento de 42% no discurso público sobre a responsabilidade ambiental de 2022 a 2023.

Ano	Nível de conscientização pública	Porcentagem de preocupação ambiental
2022	Moderado	54%
2023	Alto	67%

Crescente demanda por práticas de mineração ambientalmente responsáveis

O mercado global de mineração sustentável foi avaliado em US $ 25,4 bilhões em 2023, com crescimento projetado para US $ 42,6 bilhões até 2028. A abordagem de mineração de profundidade do TMC representa 3,2% desse segmento de mercado emergente.

Segmento de mercado	2023 valor	2028 Valor projetado	Cagr
Mineração sustentável	US $ 25,4 bilhões	US $ 42,6 bilhões	10.9%

Potenciais preocupações sociais sobre a preservação do ecossistema profundo

Um estudo de conservação marítima de 2023 indicou que 73% dos cientistas ambientais expressaram preocupações significativas sobre a possível interrupção potencial do ecossistema do mar das atividades de mineração. As avaliações de impacto da biodiversidade marinha revelaram possíveis distúrbios de habitat em aproximadamente 12.500 quilômetros quadrados do fundo do oceano.

A força de trabalho desafia em tecnologias especializadas de mineração em mar profundo

A força de trabalho de tecnologia de mineração profunda especializada compreende aproximadamente 1.200 profissionais globais a partir de 2023. O salário médio anual para especialistas em tecnologia de mineração profunda varia de US $ 95.000 a US $ 185.000, dependendo da experiência e da localização.

Segmento da força de trabalho	Total de profissionais	Alcance salarial
Tecnólogos de mineração do fundo do mar	1,200	$95,000 - $185,000

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores tecnológicos

Tecnologias avançadas de veículos robóticos e autônomos subaquáticos

A TMC investiu US $ 12,4 milhões em tecnologias robóticas subaquáticas a partir de 2023. Os veículos autônomos subaquáticos (AUVs) da empresa operam a profundidades de 4.000 a 5.000 metros com recursos de mapeamento de precisão de resolução de 0,1 metros.

Tipo de tecnologia	Profundidade operacional	Precisão de mapeamento	Investimento (USD)
Sistemas robóticos de profundidade	4.000-5.000 metros	Resolução de 0,1 metros	US $ 12,4 milhões

Técnicas inovadoras de extração e processamento minerais do fundo do mar

A tecnologia de extração do fundo do mar da TMC permite a coleção de 1,2-1,5 milhões de toneladas métricas de nódulos polimetálicos por ciclo operacional anual. A eficiência do processamento atinge 92,4% com o mínimo de interrupção ambiental.

Capacidade de extração	Eficiência de processamento	Redução de impacto ambiental
1,2-1,5 milhão de toneladas/ano	92.4%	Perturbação mínima no fundo do mar

Pesquisa e desenvolvimento contínuos no processamento de metal da bateria

A TMC alocou US $ 8,7 milhões para P&D para processamento de metais de bateria em 2023. Taxas de recuperação de metal para níquel, cobre e manganês melhoraram para 87,6%, 84,3%e 81,5%, respectivamente.

Metal	Taxa de recuperação	Investimento em P&D (USD)
Níquel	87.6%	US $ 8,7 milhões
Cobre	84.3%	US $ 8,7 milhões
Manganês	81.5%	US $ 8,7 milhões

Tecnologias emergentes para minimizar o impacto ambiental durante a extração

O TMC desenvolveu tecnologias reduzindo a geração de plumas de sedimentos em 76,2% em comparação com os métodos tradicionais de mineração no mar profundo. As emissões de carbono durante os processos de extração foram reduzidas em 64,5%.

Tecnologia Ambiental	Redução da pluma de sedimentos	Redução de emissão de carbono
Sistemas de extração avançada	76.2%	64.5%

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Legais

Estruturas legais marítimas internacionais complexas

Autoridade Internacional do Espaço do Mar (ISA) Status regulatório:

Aspecto regulatório	Status legal atual	Detalhes da conformidade
Contrato de exploração	Aprovado na Zona Clarion Clipperton	Contrato válido até 2037
Área de exploração	Direitos minerais do Oceano Pacífico	46.500 quilômetros quadrados
Requisito de relatório anual	Conformidade obrigatória	12 relatórios abrangentes por ano

Conformidade regulatória para operações de mineração em mar profundo

Métricas de conformidade regulatória:

Categoria de conformidade	Órgão regulatório	Porcentagem de conformidade
Protocolos ambientais	Organização Marítima Internacional	92.5%
Padrões de segurança	Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre Direito do Mar	88.3%
Padrões tecnológicos	Autoridade internacional do fundo do mar	95.1%

Possíveis desafios legais de proteção ambiental

Cenário de desafio legal:

• Casos de litígios ambientais pendentes: 7
• Valor do desafio legal total: US $ 42,3 milhões
• Jurisdições envolvidas: 4 tribunais marítimos internacionais

Proteção de propriedade intelectual para tecnologias de extração inovadora

Portfólio de propriedade intelectual:

Categoria de patentes	Número de patentes	Regiões de proteção de patentes
Tecnologia de extração	14	Estados Unidos, União Europeia, Japão
Equipamento de mineração em mar profundo	9	Canadá, Austrália, Coréia do Sul
Processamento mineral	6	Reino Unido, Alemanha

TMC The Metals Company Inc. (TMC) - Análise de Pestle: Fatores Ambientais

Interrupção mínima do ecossistema de superfície em comparação com a mineração tradicional

Distúrbio da superfície de extração mineral de profundidade do mar: Estimado 0,002 km² por local de mineração em comparação com 10-50 km² para operações de mineração terrestre.

Tipo de mineração	Interrupção da área de superfície	Nível de impacto do ecossistema
Mineração de terras tradicional	10-50 km²	Alto
Extração mineral de profundidade	0,002 km²	Baixo

Impacto potencial do ecossistema marinho da extração mineral de profundidade

Interrupção da biodiversidade marinha projetada: 0,05-0,1% das espécies marinhas locais potencialmente afetadas por local de extração.

Categoria de impacto	Porcentagem afetada	Estratégia de mitigação
Interrupção da espécie marinha	0.05-0.1%	Técnicas de extração de precisão
Perturbação dos sedimentos	0.03%	Protocolos de extração controlados

Compromisso com produção de metal sustentável e de baixo carbono

Alvo de redução de emissões de carbono: 60% menor em comparação com os métodos tradicionais de mineração terrestre até 2030.

Fonte de emissão	Emissões atuais	Alvo de 2030
Emissões de CO2	2,4 toneladas métricas/extração	0,96 toneladas métricas/extração
Emissões de metano	0,5 toneladas métricas/extração	0,2 toneladas métricas/extração

Desenvolvimento de tecnologias para minimizar a pegada ambiental durante a extração

Investimento em tecnologias de mitigação ambiental: US $ 12,5 milhões alocados para 2024-2026 pesquisa e desenvolvimento.

Foco em tecnologia	Valor do investimento	Melhoria da eficiência esperada
Sistemas de extração de precisão	US $ 5,2 milhões	Redução de 35% na interrupção do ecossistema
Máquinas de extração de baixo impacto	US $ 4,8 milhões	40% menor consumo de energia
Monitoramento do ecossistema marinho	US $ 2,5 milhões	Rastreamento de biodiversidade em tempo real

TMC the metals company Inc. (TMC) - PESTLE Analysis: Social factors

The social landscape for TMC the metals company Inc. is defined by a sharp, high-stakes conflict: the urgent, government-backed need for battery metals versus intense public and activist opposition to deep-sea mining. Honestly, your success here isn't just about technology; it's about winning the narrative war on environmental and social governance (ESG) (the criteria investors use to measure a company's ethical impact).

Strong NGO opposition, like Greenpeace, is actively campaigning against deep-sea mining.

You are operating directly in the crosshairs of a powerful and well-funded non-governmental organization (NGO) network. Groups like Greenpeace USA and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), which represents over 130 NGOs, are actively campaigning for a global moratorium (a temporary prohibition) on deep-sea mining.

In March 2025, the DSCC condemned TMC's plan to apply for a license under U.S. law, calling it a reckless move that disregards the environment and people. This opposition is not subtle; it's a direct, public challenge to your entire business model, creating significant regulatory and reputational risk for investors.

The core of the NGO argument is simple: the deep sea is the common heritage of humankind, and deep-sea mining poses an irreversible threat to marine ecosystems and the planet's largest carbon sink.

The company faces reputational risk from accusations of 'neo-colonial extractivism' by Pacific campaigners.

The most damaging social risk you face is the accusation of 'neo-colonial extractivism,' especially from Pacific campaigners and Indigenous groups. Greenpeace Australia Pacific and others have repeatedly slammed TMC's strategy-particularly the move to pursue permits under the U.S. Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act in 2025-as an attempt to bypass international law and multilateral processes.

This narrative frames your operations as a modern-day resource grab, saying it's nothing less than the 'plunder of the Pacific' without the consent of Pacific Peoples. This is a huge problem because it directly undercuts the 'green' and 'responsibly sourced' narrative you need to attract ESG-conscious investors and customers. Indigenous Pacific groups have called for a ban, pause, or moratorium on deep-sea mining, asserting that the ocean is the birthplace of their ancestors and an assault on their cultural heritage.

Consumer demand for 'green' battery metals drives the core business narrative for the energy transition.

To be fair, the primary tailwind for your business is the undeniable, accelerating global demand for battery metals to power the energy transition. This is your strongest counter-argument to the social opposition. The global lithium-ion battery metals market, which includes your key products, was valued at approximately $46.77 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 16.6% through 2033.

The push for electric vehicles (EVs) is the main driver. Here's the quick math on the near-term demand you are targeting:

Metal	2025 Forecasted Demand in Passenger EV Batteries (Tonnes)	Context
Nickel	451,995 tonnes	Primary nickel consumption in PEV batteries, up from 99,640 tonnes in 2021.
Cobalt	85,347 tonnes	Global cobalt demand in PEV batteries, driven by continued relevance in battery chemistries.
Copper	1.84 million tonnes	Total copper demand from electric vehicle market growth.

This massive demand for materials like nickel and cobalt, coupled with the geopolitical risk of current supply chains (which are heavily concentrated in countries like Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), is what gives TMC its strategic importance.

All four nodule metals (nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese) were designated US critical minerals in 2025.

The U.S. government has decisively aligned with the need for these resources. On November 7, 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finalized the 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Crucially, all four metals found in your polymetallic nodules-nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese-are on this list.

This designation is a major social and political signal. It unlocks expedited federal permitting under FAST-41, Defense Production Act funding, and tax incentives, accelerating projects that bolster domestic supply chains. For example, the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated a Defense Department feasibility study on refining nodule-derived intermediates into high-purity products by the end of 2025. This official government support frames your business not just as a commercial venture, but as a matter of U.S. national security and energy independence, which defintely helps your social license to operate domestically.

TMC the metals company Inc. (TMC) - PESTLE Analysis: Technological factors

Successful testing of the nodule collection system and processing technology has been demonstrated.

The core technological risk in deep-sea mining is proving the integrated collection and processing system works at scale. TMC has defintely cleared a major hurdle here. The successful pilot test of the integrated collection system in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) was a watershed moment, marking the first time a full system-including the collector vehicle and a 4-kilometer riser-was tested since the 1970s.

The system lifted over 3,000 tonnes of polymetallic nodules from the seafloor to the production vessel, the Hidden Gem. Plus, on the onshore side, the processing technology is moving from lab to pilot scale. In May 2025, their partner Pacific Metals Company (PAMCO) successfully demonstrated processing, yielding 35 tonnes of nickel-copper-cobalt alloy and 320 tonnes of manganese silicate from 450 tonnes of calcine. This proves the initial metallurgical flow sheet is viable.

Here's the quick math on recent technology investment:

• Q2 2025 Exploration and Evaluation Expenses: $10.5 million
• Projected Initial Development Capital Expenditure (with Allseas): $113 million

The company is pioneering a process to produce battery-grade Manganese Sulfate from seafloor nodules.

The real opportunity isn't just mining; it's capturing the value of the final product, especially High-Purity Manganese Sulphate (HPMS). Right now, China controls about 95% to 96% of the global HPMS supply, which is a major supply chain vulnerability for the US and its allies. TMC's nodules contain a massive manganese resource, and the initial processing step yields a manganese silicate intermediate.

The next technological leap is refining that intermediate into HPMS, which needs a purity of over 99.9% for use in high-performance nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery cathodes. The strategic investment from Korea Zinc in June 2025 is critical here. They are a world leader in non-ferrous metal refining and are actively evaluating TMC's nodule materials to explore processing pathways in the US. This partnership is the technological bridge to a non-Chinese HPMS supply chain.

Resource base is massive, with an estimated 1.6 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules in contract areas.

The sheer scale of the resource base is a technological advantage because it justifies the immense upfront capital expenditure on the collection system. As of the May 2025 corporate update, TMC's exploration areas contain SEC SK 1300-compliant resources of 1.635 billion wet tonnes of polymetallic nodules. That's a huge number.

To be fair, only 51 million tonnes have been declared as Probable Mineral Reserves (as of the August 2025 Pre-Feasibility Study for NORI-D), but the total resource is what gives the project its long-term strategic value. This resource base is projected to contain enough metal to fundamentally disrupt global supply chains.

Contained Metal in Total Resource (Estimated)	Amount (Million Tonnes)
Nickel	15.5
Copper	12.8
Cobalt	2.0
Manganese	345

Reliance on partner Allseas for the commercial-scale collection vessel, the Hidden Gem, is a critical dependency.

The entire offshore operation is tethered to a single, highly specialized asset: the Hidden Gem vessel, owned and operated by their strategic partner, Allseas. This reliance is a clear technological risk. Allseas is a global leader in offshore engineering, but any operational failure or dispute with them would halt the project entirely.

The good news is the technology is being scaled up aggressively. The planned production capacity for the Project Zero Offshore System on the Hidden Gem has been increased by 130%, from an initial 1.3 million wet tonnes to an estimated 3.0 million wet tonnes per annum. This capacity increase requires significant technological upgrades, including a larger collector vehicle and riser pipe, which Allseas is responsible for. The partnership is locked in via an Exclusive Vessel Use Agreement, but the operational uptime of that one vessel is a single point of failure.

TMC the metals company Inc. (TMC) - PESTLE Analysis: Legal factors

TMC is pursuing a dual regulatory path through the ISA and the US Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA).

You're watching a high-stakes legal drama unfold, where TMC the metals company Inc. is essentially running two separate regulatory races at once. This dual-track approach is a calculated move to mitigate the massive risk of delays at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the United Nations-affiliated body that governs the seabed beyond national jurisdiction.

The company is prioritizing the path through its US subsidiary, TMC USA, under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), a US law from 1980. Still, it is defintely maintaining its existing exploration contracts with the ISA through its other subsidiaries, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and Tonga Offshore Mining Limited (TOML). This strategy is all about flexibility, aiming to secure a commercial recovery permit under the US system while preserving its long-standing rights under the ISA framework.

TMC USA received a notice of full compliance from NOAA on its exploration applications in August 2025.

The US regulatory path has seen critical, near-term progress. TMC USA received a notice of full compliance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on its exploration applications on July 2, 2025, which was a huge step forward. This confirmation, following a substantial compliance determination in May 2025, formally reaffirms TMC USA's priority rights over the exploration areas.

This milestone is directly tied to the project's valuation. For context, the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the NORI-D Project, released on August 4, 2025, estimates a Net Present Value (NPV) of $5.5 billion, with the company's total portfolio carrying a combined NPV of $23.6 billion. That's a lot of value riding on regulatory certainty.

Here's the quick math on the NORI-D area's reserves, which are now backed by this compliance notice:

Project	Mineral Reserves (Probable)	Estimated NPV (PFS)
NORI-D Project Area	51 million tonnes (Mt) of wet nodules	$5.5 billion

NOAA is streamlining DSHMRA regulations, sending a draft rule to the White House in late 2025.

To further accelerate the US path, NOAA is actively streamlining the DSHMRA regulations. On October 28, 2025, NOAA sent a draft rule to the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. This is a big deal.

The core of this proposed rule is to combine the current two-step process-separate licenses for exploration and permits for commercial production-into a single, comprehensive review. This change, driven by a US Executive Order from April 2025, aims to cut years off the timeline and create a clearer, more efficient regulatory framework for US companies. What this estimate hides, though, is the time OIRA will take for review, plus the subsequent public comment period before a final rule is adopted.

The move under US law risks being seen as a violation of international law by UNCLOS signatories.

The risk here is geopolitical and potentially market-altering. By pursuing a unilateral US permit for an area beyond national jurisdiction, TMC's move is viewed by many as a direct challenge to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the ISA.

UNCLOS signatories, including major nations like China, France, Germany, and Brazil, have stated that any unilateral action to mine the international seabed would violate international law, specifically the principle that these resources are the "common heritage of humankind." In July 2025, the ISA issued a clear, if veiled, warning that a finding of potential non-compliance could lead to TMC losing its existing ISA exploration contracts.

This legal conflict creates significant business risks:

• Market Access: UNCLOS member nations could legally challenge the sale of minerals recovered under a unilateral US permit.
• Contract Termination: TMC's subsidiaries, NORI and TOML, could lose their ISA exploration contracts, which cover vast areas of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).
• Litigation Risk: The company's own SEC filings from May 2025 noted that this dual-path approach could result in the need to engage in costly and time-consuming litigation to enforce its rights.

The US path offers speed, but the ISA path offers global legitimacy; TMC is trying to have both, but it's a tightrope walk.

TMC the metals company Inc. (TMC) - PESTLE Analysis: Environmental factors

Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) suggests nodule collection has a global warming potential 54%-70% lower than land-based mining.

The core of The Metals Company's (TMC) environmental argument rests on a comparative Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) which positions deep-sea nodule collection as a significantly less carbon-intensive source for critical battery metals than traditional land-based mining operations.

Specifically, the 2023 LCA commissioned by TMC and prepared by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence found that the NORI-D polymetallic nodule project has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) that is 54% to 70% lower than metal production from land-based ores.

For the nickel sulfate product alone, the LCA projected a reduction of more than 70% lower emissions on average compared to key land-based production routes, including Indonesian nickel. This is a powerful, concrete data point against the environmental impact of terrestrial mining, which often involves blasting, deforestation, and the creation of massive waste tailings.

Here's a quick look at the comparative GWP impact:

Metric	TMC Nodule Collection (NORI-D)	Land-Based Mining (Average)
Global Warming Potential (GWP) Reduction	54% to 70% lower GWP	Baseline (100% GWP)
Nickel Sulfate Emissions Reduction	More than 70% lower emissions	Baseline (100% emissions)
Avoided Impacts	No deforestation, no toxic tailings, no groundwater contamination	Associated with deforestation, large waste generation, and carbon sink disruption

Concerns persist over the irreversible damage to deep-sea ecosystems and slow benthic community recovery.

Still, the environmental risks of deep-sea mining are substantial and remain the company's biggest hurdle. Scientists continue to discover the incredible diversity of life in the deep-ocean habitats, including the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), where TMC plans to operate.

The primary concern is the irreversible damage to the benthic community-the organisms living on or in the seafloor-due to the physical removal of the polymetallic nodules, which are the only hard substrate in that environment. Recovery times for these deep-sea ecosystems are projected to be extremely slow, potentially spanning decades or even centuries.

This risk is why a growing number of major companies, including Sixty companies like Panasonic, BMW, and Renault, have publicly committed to a moratorium, calling for a halt to deep-sea mining until the environmental risks are fully understood. That's a serious commercial signal you can't ignore.

The company has invested over $500 million in deep-sea science and environmental studies.

To address these concerns, TMC has made a significant financial commitment to environmental research. Over the past decade, the company has invested more than $500 million in developing its deep-sea minerals platform.

This capital has been directed toward scientific research, engineering development, and extensive environmental baseline studies in its contract areas. Since first receiving an exploratory contract in 2011, TMC has conducted 22 offshore research campaigns on its NORI exploration area as part of its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. This level of investment is defintely meant to build a science-backed case for responsible operations.

The studies are intended to inform the International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulations, which are expected to be adopted in 2025.

Whistleblower footage from a prototype test showed wastewater and debris release into surface waters, raising plume concerns.

A major public relations and regulatory risk emerged from a 2023 prototype test conducted by TMC and its partner AllSeas. Undercover footage, later released by Greenpeace, showed that wastewater sucked up from the seabed was discharged directly onto the sea's surface.

The wastewater contained rock debris and sediment, which immediately raised serious concerns about the potential for sediment plumes to spread horizontally and vertically through the water column. This is a critical environmental factor because these plumes could:

• Smother and poison ocean life over a wide area.
• Impact mid-water column ecosystems, which are distinct from the deep-sea floor.
• Create a transparency issue, as the incident was not publicly reported by the company at the time.

Scientists monitoring the tests also alleged flaws in the companies' scientific program's monitoring system and poor sampling practices, suggesting the data collected on plume impact may be unreliable. This incident highlights the technical and environmental competence challenges TMC faces in scaling to a commercial operation of 10.8 million tonnes of wet nodules annually, as projected in their Pre-Feasibility Study.