Arne O. Holm says We Were Going to Save the Ocean and Free Ourselves From China, but Instead Ended Up in a Timeout
In November this year, I participated in a debate about deep seabed mining in Båtsfjord, Finnmark, under the auspices of Salt. There was great interest in the topic. The Norwegian government has now dropped the proposal. (Photo: Arne O. Holm)
Comment: Norway's proposal to open up for deep-sea mining was never even close to being realized. Now, Norway may instead have been a door opener for a major Chinese attack on the same minerals. That does not serve the ocean nation of Norway well.
China usually does what China wants when it comes to mining, whether on land or at sea. However, in the international debate, it is quite the treat to have support from a nation that claims to be leading within climate and environment.
Turned heads
Because it turned heads, to put it mildly, when Norway already in 2017 initiated a process to open up the seabed for mineral exploration. The argument was based on Norway's expertise within oil and gas and an alleged lack of minerals needed for the green shift.
Almost everyone else, including major industrial companies, international environmental organizations, the EU, and Nordic neighbors, believed Norway should instead use common sense and drop the proposal in its entirety.
Few, if any, would buy minerals that could threaten life in the ocean, there are barely any assessments of possible consequences, and even fewer wanted to participate in the exploration.
Takes longer to find a good bread recipe
Yet, or despite this, the Norwegian parliament unanimously agreed to seabed mining in January this year. The government processed the decision in April, and licenses were announced already in June.
Finding a good recipe for home-baked bread takes longer than it took for the government to put itself in an international timeout.
Demanded a ban
Because in addition to the protests already mentioned, several individual countries and organizations have demanded a so-called moratorium, a temporary ban, on seabed mining.
The sum of arguments can be summarized as follows: We know little or nothing about the consequences. We don't even know if we need the minerals that could possibly be dug out of the seabed in a few decades.
Look to Norway, said China, and cheered.
The Norwegian government must have understood that it was way off base, that the country's international reputation was at stake, if not already lost.
Because, with the flick of the wrist, the resolution disappeared as the same government entered budget negotiations with the parliament opposition. The Socialist Left Party succeded in scrapping the entire proposal.
Lured China
But before that happened, the government had lured China out on the field. China, with its technological and resourceful advantages, was the main argument for Norway's opening of deep-sea mining. We were breaking free from China's grip on the world economy.
Instead, we became a Chinese ally. Look to Norway, said China, calling us a pioneer in this type of mining. Let us speed up our own production, China added.
Norway's environmental profile is disgraced.
The Norwegian retreat was both expected and necessary. I have repeatedly stated that there won't be any deep-sea mining on the Norwegian seabed for the foreseeable future.
Yet, when the retreat finally comes, it comes after Norway's international environmental profile has been disgraced. And it does not come from acknowledging the political mishap that mining without knowledge is.
The retreat came because the government needed a political majority for a budget that was about anything but mining.
