The Cook Islands have just signed a highly controversial agreement with the United States, to allow them to access a type of specific and highly strategic pebbles. For the environment, we will iron …
Very popular materials
Concretely, this deal relates to cooperation between the two states in matters of “ responsible development »Mineral resources of seabed in the exclusive economic area of the Cook Islands. It will focus on research and potential exploration of precious materials, and particularly polymetallic nodules.
Also called manganese nodules, These pebbles are formed at depths generally between 4,000 and 6,000 meters deep, and they abound off the archipelagowhich has one of the largest world deposits.
And if they are so coveted, it is becauseThey contain 20 to 30 % manganese, used in metallurgy, as well as nickel and cobalttwo essential elements for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
We also find it copper, essential for electronics and electrical networks, and, in some cases, low concentrations of rare landprized for magnets, screens and other high-tech components.
A disaster for seabed
The stake for the United States is therefore crucial, the Trump administration seeking by all means to relaunch the local industry in order to depend less on China. Thus, the two entities engage “ For scientific progress, mutual prosperity, economic autonomy and environmental management “, Detailed the government of the archipelago located in the Pacific.
But this agreement also makes environment defenders pale. Because mining in deep waters is a very controversial industry, due to its propensity to cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. This practice can lead to the destruction of the habitats of thousands of species, and disturb the patterns of migration and reproduction of fauna and flora.
It should also be noted that polymetallic nodules are very slowly formed, by growing up only a few million years old. They are born around a small nucleus, like a fragment of rock or a shark tooth, and grow over time. In other words, This is a resource that ” is not renewable »On a human scaleindicates Florian Besson, geologist at Ifremer, to our colleagues Ouest-France.
Beyond environmental issues, this partnership may also rekindle geopolitical tensions, the Cook Islands having recently made a similar agreement with China.
- The Cook Islands have signed a strategic agreement with the United States to explore the rich seabed from their territory.
- These resources, including polymetallic nodules, are very popular for the materials they contain.
- The agreement worries environmentalists and could also rekindle tensions with China.
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