New voyage for Cook Is exploration of deep-sea nodules

More deep sea research will be undertaken in Cook Island waters and Cook Islanders are right at the forefront of this next research survey. The team will be departing Rarotonga shores this December.

Rima Browne14 December 2019Ocean Minerals Limited, Hans Smit, Reboama Samuel, Charlee McLean, Anna Glassie, Sam Napa, Junior Tapoki, Te Ipukarea Society, Voyaging Society, Israel Miles, cook islands seabed minerals, Cook Islands, CI EEZ, Exploration, Deep sea research

Seabed metals bound for Belgium

GSR Exploration Manager and marine geologist Francois Charlet said their research was successful. “We did a lot of deployment of freefall grabs to collect samples. We collected about 469kg of nodules which is quite a lot,” said Charlet.

Rima Browne24 September 2019Nodules, seabed minerals, Chloe Wragg, Junior Tapoki, Rima Browne, Eusenio Fatialofa, MV Grinna, CI EEZ, Deep sea research

New vessel embarks on first deep sea research in decades

our Cook Islanders are to be included in a research team embarking on an expedition to explore the seabed near Aitutaki this month.

Rima Browne9 September 2019Research, CI EEZ, Chloe Wragg, Junior Tapoki, Eusenio Fatialofa, Francois Charlet, Joachim Lamal, MV Grinna, Cook Islands, Tom Masters, seabed minerals, nodules

Deep sea mining: Riches or ruin?

Cook Island News | 19 November 2018 Before matters proceed to the point of no return, we the Iti Tangata need to ask whether mining will lead to riches or to our ruin. Should we allow our Government to jeopardise the main industry of our country that is the backbone of our national economy? Does […]

CI NEWSDede Mingi19 November 2018SBMA, Seabed Minerals Authority, Deep sea research, deep sea activities, CI EEZ, Exclusive Economic Zone, Marae Moana Act

Cook Islands signs seabed minerals deal

“In a deal worth $100,000, OML has reserved around 23,000 square kilometres, or 1.2% of the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) containing high value polymetallic (manganese) nodules for up to 18 months.

This gives the company the exclusive right to apply to undertake prospecting and exploration activities in that area. The first agreement between the government and the OML was signed a year ago in which they reserved a different seabed area of around 12,000 square kilometres to explore primarily for seafloor sediment enriched in Rare Earth Elements (REEs), as well as four additional areas reserved for OML on a first option basis.

Under this latest agreement, Finance minister Mark Brown confirmed the OML will not undertake any activity in this particular area, adding it was merely to reserve the spot for potential exploration in the future.

“It is basically to give them the first right over this (area) ahead of any other company that may want to come in and apply for an exploration licence in this particular area,” Brown said.”

CI NEWSDede Mingi3 October 2017Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Ocean Minerals Limited, CI EEZ, Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone, Polymetallic Nodules, Manganese, nodules, Cobalt, Rare Earth Minerals, Mark Brown, Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), Seabed Minerals Act, Marae Moana Act, OML

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