News

25 November 2025

Gemini Centre for Deep-Sea Mining Awarded Funding for Project led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute

The Gemini Centre for Havbunnsmineralen/Deep-Sea Mining, with key members from the TripleDeep team has been awarded funding from NordForsk for a project led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. The new research project is called 'Critical Minerals in the Arctic: Challenges and Perspectives for the Nordic Countries' (CRIMINA) and will investigate how Nordic country could address the major challenges - geopolitical, legal, and environmental - that are associated with mineral extraction in the Arctic.

The project will run from 2025 to 2029. More information, and a link to the project, can be found in a recent article on the website of Fridtjof Nansen Institute: https://www.fni.no/news/fni-secures-major-research-project-on-critical-minerals-in-the-arctic. 

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NTNU awarded funding from JPI Oceans for MiningImpact 3, led by GEOMAR

NTNU has recently been awarded funding, as part of a consortium that has been funded under JPI Oceans for the MiningImpact3 research project. This project is led by GEOMAR. Building on the success of two previous projects, MiningImpact 3 will further explore how deep-sea ecosystems function and respond to potential mining activities. The project focuses on two types of mineral deposits: polymetallic nodules (metal-rich ores scattered across the deep ocean floor) and seafloor massive sulphides (mineral deposits formed by hydrothermal vents at mid-ocean ridges).

For the first time, this consortium also includes 7 Norwegian partner institutions (Akvaplan-niva, UiB, NTNU, NORCE, SINTEF, IMR, UiT). They will focus on studying impacts from mining seafloor massive sulphides deposits along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge.

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TripleDeep featured in an article of The Biologist

Torkild Bakken and Laura Paiba García were featured in an article of The Biologists, a magazine of the Royal Society of Biology (26 May 2025). The article discusses the efforts to collect and synthesise data on the Norwegian Sea ecosystems in the context of efforts in Norway to open up parts of its Exclusive Economic Zone for mining. 

A link to the article can be found here: https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-features/mapping-earth-s-final-frontier

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Mats Ingulstad interviewed for article of Smithsonian Magazine

Our project leader, Mats Ingulstad, has recently (21 April, 2025) been interviewed for an article in Smithsonian Magazine on the Norwegian governmental efforts to open up the Norwegian Continental Shelf for deep seabed mineral extraction. In it, Mats discussed the current efforts in relation to a longer history of efforts to mine deep seabed minerals.

A link to the article can be found here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/as-norway-considers-deep-sea-mining-a-rich-history-of-ocean-conservation-decisions-may-inform-how-the-country-acts-180986412/

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TripleDeep members featured in public discussion on deep-sea mining

Mats Ingulstad and Steinar Løve Ellefmo particpated in a public panel discussion on deep-sea mining in Norway (23 October 2024). The discussion, one of 7 in 7 different places in Norway invited scientists, fishermen, business leaders and poltiicians to exchange views and share their perspectives no the recent opening up of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The discussions were organized by SALT and partly funded by the WWF.

A recording of the discussion (in Norwegian) can be found here: https://salt.nu/innsikt/fremtiden-til-havet-avgjores-pa-land?fbclid=IwY2xjawGGxq5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY_xhHwMe9eddVh7TYWEN9LTythOVbP944y6CMYJtVCZYoeg4CKOiZ2nqw_aem_3Djp8P8-4Wzm3AaJnr20pg

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TripleDeep members feature in NTNU podcast 63 degrees north

Torkild Bakken en Mats Ingulstad participated in a podcast conversation of NTNU 63 degrees north (February 6, 2024) on the decision to open an area the size of Italy to extract minerals at Norway's Mid-Arctic Ocean Ridge. The conversation touches on the special nature of this environment, which is alive with underwater volcanic activity – where big towers called black smokers spew mineral-laden boiling hot water into the ocean. The minerals precipitate out, and have accumulated over millions of years. Now this area may be about to be mined.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/63-degrees-north/episodes/seabed-mining-savior-or-scourge

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TripleDeep Workshop Ponta Delgada

The TripleDeep team had another workshop in Ponta Delgada, on Sao Miguel Island, Azores (17-19 October 2023). The goal of the workshop was to discuss challenges around deep-sea mining research from an interdisciplinary perspective. With help from key external guests from academia and beyond, we discussed key questions across the disciplines of geology, mining engineering, economics, deep-sea biology/ecology and history.

A special thanks goes to the University of the Azores for hosting our workshop!

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First project workshop 

The TripleDeep team just had its first two-day workshop. During these two days we focussed on the ways of creating an interdisciplinary team and fostering collaboration across the disciplinary boundaries.