General – Nodule Resources
Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR), DEME’s deep-sea exploration subsidiary, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Deep Ocean Resources Development (DORD) to conduct a joint demonstration test aimed at the potential co-development of polymetallic nodule resources within DORD’s exploration licence area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).
Under the MOU, GSR will provide its technical knowledge and operational expertise to support DORD’s program.
A key objective of the partnership is to execute a System Integration Test (SIT) within the DORD contract area in the early 2030s.
This test will validate the safe and reliable operation of an integrated, commercial-scale mining system comprising a seafloor collector, a vertical transport system, and a surface vessel, at depths exceeding 4,000 metres.
The SIT will include a thorough environmental impact assessment that combines GSR’s experience of offshore operations with DORD’s extensive environmental and geological dataset, which has been built up over decades of exploration work in the area.
The agreement highlights the increasing strategic importance of diversifying supply chains for critical minerals.
Polymetallic nodules contain nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese – essential metals for the global clean‑energy transition, electric vehicle batteries, wind energy systems and the rapidly expanding data‑centerinfrastructure supporting artificial intelligence technologies.
The Government of Japan has designated the development of these resources as a national priority under its Fourth Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
All activities carried out under the MOU will take place within the DORD license area and will comply fully with the ISA’s exploration regulations and environmental guidelines.
