Bahrain steps into the future of deep sea mining

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has made a press release informing that it has received an application from Impossible Metal Bahrain, officially sponsored by the Kingdom of Bahrain, to explore polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).

This marks Bahrain as the first Middle Eastern country to sponsor a deep-sea mining application, part of its broader economic diversification push beyond oil.

Application

The application, spanning 170 pages, lays out a plan to explore six blocks in the CCZ, a region rich in polymetallic nodules containing manganese, copper, nickel, and other critical minerals essential for electric vehicles and electronics. These exploration areas fall within ISA’s reserved areas, set aside specifically to ensure developing countries have equitable access to opportunities in deep-sea mineral exploration. To date, 21 nations have been granted contracts, and Bahrain now joins their ranks.

Impossible Metals

According to Impossible Metals’ CEO, Oliver Gunasekara 🇺🇸🇬🇧, the company has developed AI, powered robotic technology designed to harvest nodules with minimal environmental impact, aiming to address concerns from detractors who call for more research into the ecological risks of seabed mining.

A new approach to sourcing the critical minerals

Gunasekara also shared that while Bahrain has not yet made financial commitments to Impossible Metals, there is potential for future collaboration, including the possibility of funding a metals refinery. As he put it: “What’s exciting about Bahrain is that they have capital and they have energy.” Moreover, he has added, “Impossible Metals is proving that innovation can unite economic value with environmental responsibility. Together with the Kingdom of Bahrain, we are pioneering a new approach to sourcing the critical minerals essential for clean energy and global security.”

What’s next

The road ahead is significant: the company will undergo a five-year, $70 million environmental review, and it hopes ISA will finalize its deep-sea mining regulations within that timeframe. In parallel, Impossible Metals has also applied for a permit with U.S. authorities to explore around American Samoa.

Commenting on Bahrain’s sponsorship, ISA Secretary General Leticia Carvalho noted: “The addition of the first West Asian and Arab country to the list of exploration applications reflects the universality, legitimacy and functionality of the ISA’s unique system, as well as the region’s strong commitment to multilateralism and the advancement of deep-ocean marine scientific research.”

She emphasized that this step aligns with ISA’s mission to establish a robust, science-based regulatory regime ensuring governance of deep-sea mining while protecting and preserving the marine environment.