Written question asked by Kerry McCarthy (Labour) on Monday, 19 July 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 July 2021 (named day). It was answered by Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 July 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Deep Sea Mining: Nauru

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the implications for the UK Government’s position on deep sea mining of the trigger by the Government of Nauru of the two year rule on deep sea mining.

Answer: Nauru has notified the International Seabed Authority of its intention to apply for approval of a plan of work for deep sea mining exploitation under the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We continue to press for the very highest environmental standards to be agreed and activated by the International Seabed Authority. Until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impacts on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations in place, the UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects.

Secondary information