Deep-Sea Mining in the Cook Islands: A Vision for Prosperity or an Environmental Gamble?

Jean Mason, curator of the Cook Islands Library and Museum, humorously describes a black, knobbly rock she retrieves from a display cabinet, stating, “They look like chocolate truffles, just don’t eat them.” This “rock” holds potential significance for the future of this Pacific island nation. Scientists identify it as a polymetallic nodule, formed over thousands of years by mineral deposits on the ocean floor. Rich in cobalt, nickel, and manganese, these ancient structures are now highly sought after, as their metals are essential components for batteries used in modern technologies like electric vehicles and mobile phones. These nodules have emerged as a point of contention among the low-lying Pacific Islands, which are particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. While rising sea levels make the ocean—known as Moana in Māori and numerous other Polynesian languages—their primary threat, it also serves as their most significant resource. The islanders rely on it for fishing and tourism, which attracts visitors to their clear waters. However, the Cook Islands now aims to explore depths of up to 6,000m (19,685 ft) to access these nodules. Prime Minister Mark Brown champions this initiative, anticipating it will transform this nation of 15 volcanic islands located in the southern Pacific. The expectation is that revenue generated from these metals could bring unprecedented prosperity to the islanders. Nevertheless, the prospect of deep-sea mining potentially comes with environmental costs. Supporters contend that collecting these nodules for renewable energy applications will aid the global shift away from fossil fuels. They also suggest this method is less disruptive than terrestrial mining. Conversely, critics assert that the consequences of extracting resources from one of the planet’s last undisturbed regions are largely unknown. They advocate for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until further research clarifies its impact on marine organisms and the oceanic ecosystem. Jean recalls that during her childhood, the nodules were merely considered useful for crafting knife blades. She states, “We had no idea that cell phones were going to come, and wind turbines and electric cars.” The topic of nodules is frequently discussed within families here, and Jean strongly supports their extraction. Her husband works as a lawyer for a company that has received an exploration licence from the government. Jean’s workplace, the library, contains numerous holiday books left or donated by visitors, as tourism generates over 70% of the country’s GDP, making it the largest economic contributor. The library also houses a newspaper archive. Jean hands over a photocopy of a 1974 article from the Cook Islands News, headlined “100% concentration of manganese nodules.” She emphasizes, “My point is, we’ve been talking about this for 50-plus years – I think the moratorium time is over.” The Pacific Ocean spans nearly a third of the Earth’s surface, and the presence of its buried nodules has been recognized since the 19th Century. However, in the 1960s, American geologist John L Mero authored a book arguing that the seabed could fulfill a significant portion of global mineral requirements. This process is neither simple nor inexpensive. Yet, in 2008, when prices for metals such as nickel surged, deep-sea mining became more attractive. Subsequently, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, leading to a departure of tourists and a depletion of funds. Coupled with the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and erratic weather patterns, the nation swiftly recognized the necessity of diversifying its economic reliance. The Seabeds Minerals Authority of the Cook Islands estimates that their waters contain 12 billion wet tonnes of polymetallic nodules. Some contend that seabed mining lacks financial viability, suggesting that rapid technological advancements might render these metals obsolete by the time extraction commences. Nevertheless, interest exists. In 2022, the Cook Islands issued three licences to companies to begin investigating deep-sea mining potential. These companies are currently collaborating with scientists to study the environmental implications. Hans Smit, who manages Moana Minerals, a company holding an exploration licence, states, “Nothing we do in life is risk-free. So, if you want zero risk you need to go and sit in a little room with cotton wool around you.” He adds, “We have this lifestyle, this lifestyle has a price. If we don’t want mining and we don’t want to get all these metals, we need to stop doing just about everything we’re doing.” Hans, originally from South Africa, relocated here to integrate into the community. He views the deep-sea metals as an “incredible resource” with the potential to benefit the islanders. Although there is increasing demand to postpone deep-sea mining until the International Seabed Authority establishes regulations, these rules pertain solely to international waters. The Cook Islands possess substantial reserves within their national waters, specifically their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), allowing them to proceed independently. Rima Brown, a young Cook Islander holding a geography degree, humorously refers to herself as the “poster child” for deep-sea mining, remarking, “We’re known as small-island developing states, but we like to call ourselves large ocean states.” Rima is employed by the Seabed Minerals Authority, where a significant portion of her work involves mapping the seabed. She explains, “While we’re only about 200 square kilometers in land mass, we have an exclusive economic zone of almost 2 million square kilometres,” which she equates to the size of Mexico. Jean adds, “It’s the only resource we’ve got.” Jean questions, “[Industrialised nations] destroy our atmosphere and then they’ve got a nerve to tell us, let’s leave your stuff in the seabed. How dare they tell us we can’t touch our resources?” However, opposition to deep-sea mining in the Cook Islands extends beyond external parties. Near the coast of Rarotonga, the largest and most populated island in the Cook Islands, surfers, kayakers, and swimmers congregate around a substantial vaka, a traditional Polynesian catamaran. Those aboard chant in Māori, repeating, “Te Moana, Te Moana, Paruru ia ra, Paruru ia ra,” which translates to “Protect our ocean.” Alanah Matamaru Smith of the Te Ipukarea Society, an environmental organization located in Rarotonga, states, “We are asking for more time for robust independent research, more time for our people to be made better aware of what potential risk might look like.” She observes, “We’re seeing infrastructure being put up here on Rarotonga, accommodation for offshore mining companies to reside here, we’ve got draft mining regulations already in place. Actions are speaking a lot louder than words at the moment.” Prime Minister Mark Brown, the driving force behind this initiative, concurrently holds the portfolios of tourism minister and seabed minerals minister. He has articulated his ambition for the Cook Islands to become a leader in this sector. Brown, who envisions emulating Norway’s establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, asserts, “It provides the opportunity for our kids to be able to study at any university in the world without having to incur a student loan.” He continues, “It allows us to have the type of health care that our people have to go to New Zealand or Australia for. It allows our young people the opportunity to live fulfilling lives here in our country, without having to go to other countries to ply their trade in an industry that doesn’t exist here.” In response to those who suggest that a nation vulnerable to climate change risks exacerbating the issue, he contends that he is actively seeking solutions. He explains, “We know that for the last 20 years we haven’t been able to get the financing from the larger emitting countries, so we’ve got to look for ways to protect ourselves.” However, activist June Hosking remains unconvinced. She hails from Mauke, one of the outer islands, which has a population of only 300 residents. Despite the government’s organization of consultations with island residents and the significant diaspora in New Zealand, she claims that the potential drawbacks of the industry are not being adequately addressed. She notes, “People don’t like to rock the boat in the outer islands.” She adds, “So, when we have these consultations, there’s only maybe three of us who would speak up.” June mentions that, characteristic of island life, many refer to the Prime Minister simply as Mark. She also states that his wife is married to her husband’s cousin. Nevertheless, these family ties do not prevent her from being perceived as somewhat of a “trouble-maker” for raising questions. She recounts, “When locals say ‘Oh no, I stay neutral on [deep-sea mining]’, I say ‘you can’t drive very far in neutral’,” and laughs. She concludes, “There are times in your life when you need to actually make a stand for something – we are talking about our future here.” Lindle Markwell provided additional reporting. Katy Watson’s documentary on the Cook Islands can be accessed on Assignment via BBC World Service Radio. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.