DEME | Solutions for global challenges 1
Meeting increased metal demandin the most responsible manner
Global Sea Mineral ResourcesBrussels, Belgium | 05.06.18
Scarcity of ResourcesHarvesting minerals at great depth
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Demand for metals & minerals | Urbanization
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Demand for metals & minerals | Urbanization
9.725 billion people by 2050
30% increase over next 30 years
66% is projected to be urban
Predominantly in Africa and AsiaRef: UN, 2014, UN, 2015
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Demand for metals & minerals | Electrification & Sharing Economy
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Demand for metals & minerals | Electrification & Sharing Economy
• NMC battery is driving electrification• Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt• Nodules contain Ni, Mn, Co, Cu & Mo• To increase efficiency, ratio NMC
batteries is moving from 1-1-1 to 8-1-1• Sharing economy will not result is
fewer cars, as the lifetime of a car will decrease due to more frequent use
“Minerals and climate change are inextricably linked, because the world cannot tackle climate change without adequate supply of raw materials to manufacture
clean technologies.” [World Bank, 2017]
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Traditional supply for metals & minerals
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Traditional supply for metals & minerals
“The deterioration in the quality of metallic ore resources on land will bring about significant interactions with other
resources, such as energy and water.” [Norgate, 2009]
“Reducing our demand for primary metals by recycling and dematerialization is essential, but despite our best efforts, there would
always be a need for additional primary metals.” [Norgate & MacLean, 2009]
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Environment | Responsible Primary Resources
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https://eitrawmaterials.eu/innovation-themes/
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
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Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Polymetallic Nodules
“Nodules in the Pacific Ocean have more Mn, Ni, Mo and Co than the entire global
terrestrial reserve base for those metals.” [Hein et al., 2012]
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GSR Leaflet
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GSR Leaflet
”Using Best Available Techniques (BAT) and the highest scientific standards, GSR aims to
be a global leader in the responsible exploration and exploitation of polymetallic
nodules, contributing to the sustainable development of the planet.”
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Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Project Development
Responsible Deep Sea Mining Geological considerations
Technological considerations
Environmental considerations
Economic considerations
Regulatory considerations
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Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Geological considerations
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Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Objectives
Engineering • Collect the first in-situ geotechnical data of the soil’s strenght, up to 4m below seabed• Perform tests with Tracked Soil Testing Device to collect data on soil performace• Improve the design of the deep-sea vehicle
Biology & Environment• Collect baseline data for deep-sea micro to macrofauna• Visual mapping and quantification of the deep-sea megafauna • Biochemical analysis of water samples
Resource Definition• Collect HR geophysical data (AUV) within three selected locations• Collect enough boxcore samples to determine nodule abundance• Calibrate the geophysical data• Correlate and extrapolate HR study to lower resolution
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Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Partners
#52 people on board#10 nationalities
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• MBES horizontal resolution: ~70m / MBES vertical resolution: ~50m• Surface covered: 81,678 sq. km x 2.5 Belgium!• Distance surveyed: 8,001 km / Distance sailed: 18,000 km
Multibeam map
60 km
Backscatter map
60 km
Slope map
60 km
Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Multibeam Survey
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Box Core 24.00 kg/m²
• 62 box-cores collected during three cruises • Locations selected based on backscatter data and slope
maps• Estimation of the nodule abundance (including buried
nodules)
• Collection of in-situ video imagery for each location• Field processing: description, sievings, microscopical
observations and preliminary tests on soil• Sub-sampling collected for biological, geological and
geotechnical laboratory analyses
Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Box-cores
Video
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Areas of interest have been identified from the GSR Concession and processed with ArcGIS software to generate the above map of potential nodule fields
Targeted areas represent 9,600 km² (13% of the entire concession)
Responsible Deep Sea Mining | Data integration 2014
50 km
