COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway’s minority center-left government and two large opposition parties made a deal Tuesday to open the Arctic Ocean to seabed mineral exploration despite warnings by environmental groups that it would threaten the biodiversity of the vulnerable ecosystems in the area.
Norway said in June it wanted to open parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for commercial deep sea mining in line with the country’s strategy to seek new economic opportunities and reduce its reliance on oil and gas.
“This is a disaster for the sea,” said Frode Pleym, head of the local chapter of Greenpeace.
According to the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, there are sulphides and manganese crusts containing metals and minerals that are crucial for making batteries, wind turbines, PCs and mobile phones.
The planned area is located southwest of the Arctic island of Svalbard.
Persons:
—, ”, Frode Pleym, ” Martin Sveinssønn Melvær, –, Center Party –, NTB
Organizations:
Greenpeace, “, Norwegian Bellona, Labor, Center Party, Progress Party, Norwegian, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Ministry of Petroleum, Energy
Locations:
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Norway, Norwegian, “ Norway, Hoeyre, Svalbard