By AFP - Agence France Presse
Portuguese lawmakers take a step towards banning deep sea mining
The Portuguese parliament on Friday took the first step towards banning deep-sea mining in the country's territorial waters, which would be unprecedented in Europe.
Deep sea mining has gained prominence in recent years as countries move away from fossil fuels and companies invest heavily to explore the seabed in search of valuable minerals needed for the transition.
On Friday, Portuguese lawmakers adopted at first reading several texts from various parties, including the ruling group and the opposition, to ban such mining by 2050.
Lawmakers will now use these texts as a basis for drafting a law that will be submitted to parliament for a vote.
If the measure is adopted, Portugal will become “the first European country to write into law a ban on this activity until there is more scientific data” on the impact of deep-sea mining on the environment, Catarina Abril, an environmental activist with the non-governmental organization Sciaena, told AFP.
The seabed around the autonomous Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean, is believed to be rich in manganese, cobalt, and nickel, which are minerals in high demand, mainly because they are essential for the manufacture of batteries for electric cars.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), based in Jamaica, is responsible for protecting the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction and for supervising any exploration or exploitation of coveted mineral resources in these zones.
Around 30 countries, out of the 169 member states of the ISA, have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, with NGOs and scientists warning of the possible risks the activity poses to little-known underwater ecosystems.
The ISA Council, which for the time being only grants exploration contracts, has been drafting rules for commercial exploration for more than a decade.
The aim is to adopt a mining code this year that would close a loophole that currently allows any country to apply for a mining contract on behalf of a company it sponsors.
In December, Norway suspended plans to start granting licenses for deep sea mining after facing opposition from environmental groups and international institutions.
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