Potential for seabed mining in Oman’s Extended Continental Shelf
BLUE ECONOMY: Seabed prospective for polymetallic sulphides, says expert
An extension of Oman’s continental shelf, for which an application was made by the government to the United Nations two years ago, could potentially open up opportunities for seabed mining in the Sultanate, according to a key expert.
Joshua A Brien (pictured), Special Counsel at prominent international law firm Cooley LLP, said the Sultanate would be able to exercise rights over minerals found in the Extended Continental Shelf, which typically extends well beyond the 200km Exclusive Economic Zone to a distance of 350 nautical miles.
Brien was the keynote speaker on ‘Marine Mining’ on the second day of the Ocean Economy & Technology Conference under way at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.
A panel discussion on the subject featured international experts Laurens de Jonge, Manager – Design and Estimation for Mining, at IHC Mining; Rene Grogan, Principal — Gro Sustainably; and Greg Stemm, Chairman — Odyssey Marine Exploration, and President – International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS). The moderator was Sophie Egden, Senior Mining Technical Specialist on the World Bank’s Deep Sea Minerals Team.
Later in remarks to the Observer, Brien said: “As a result of Oman’s Extended Continental Shelf mission, it opens up the prospect of exercising rights over areas that are highly prospective for seabed minerals — mainly polymetallic sulphides known to occur in the vicinity of Oman’s continental shelf.” “Oman will be able to exercise rights in respect to those deposits. However, to do that, Oman will need to start thinking about establishing legislation, and also policies in terms of how it will manage its seabed resources.”
In October 2017, the Sultanate submitted a formal application to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, seeking exclusive rights over a large area of the seafloor in the Arabian Sea.
A successful bid would effectively mean that Oman will have the right to, among other things, explore for hydrocarbons, minerals and other non-living marine resources.
IT OPENS UP THE PROSPECT OF EXERCISING RIGHTS OVER AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY PROSPECTIVE FOR SEABED MINERALS – MAINLY POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES KNOWN TO OCCUR IN THE VICINITY OF OMAN’S CONTINENTAL SHELF.