Pioneering deep-sea mining with presidential support

Business Jun 30, 2025

The Metals Company, led by CEO Gerard Barron, wants to mine the Pacific's Clarion-Clipperton Zone for nickel and cobalt—key ingredients in batteries and national defense tech.
In 2022, they pulled up 3,000 tons of these metal-rich nodules from the ocean floor using new tech, showing it's possible to get these resources without digging on land.

Controversy and funding

Not everyone's on board—critics worry deep-sea mining could harm fragile marine life and stir up harmful sediment.
The company says their methods are designed to leave some nodules behind so nature can recover.
With $85 million in fresh investment, they're now waiting on NOAA approval before going any further, as global debates about ocean mining continue.