A state-owned Chinese firm plans a deep-sea mining experiment in the Pacific Ocean’s international waters, including areas near Minami-Torishima Island, according to sources familiar with the project. The planned operation is expected to mine at depths of more than 5,000 meters. The effort is described as the first of its kind for deep-sea mining experiments.
The project is linked to China’s efforts to strengthen its position in the global supply chain for rare metals. If the trial proceeds, it could shape competition in seabed mineral extraction. Rare metals such as manganese are used in electric vehicle batteries and other high-tech products.
Law of the Sea framework and ISA oversight
Under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, mineral resources on or beneath the seabed in international waters are treated as “the common heritage of mankind.” The International Seabed Authority (ISA), headquartered in Jamaica, oversees mineral-related activities in these areas. At present, there are no international regulations governing commercial development.
The ISA grants countries and companies with sufficient technological capabilities exclusive rights to explore specific ocean areas ahead of potential future mining. These exploration rights are part of the ISA’s role in preparing for eventual extraction and trade rules. The ISA is expected to set international regulations for seabed mineral extraction and commercial trade at its general meeting next summer.
Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech trial near Minami-Torishima
The company behind the Pacific trial is Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corp. It holds exclusive exploration rights in two regions near Minami-Torishima Island, which lies just outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The island is part of the Ogasawara island chain that belongs to Japan.
As outlined in a plan submitted to the ISA, the company intends to run a 20-day trial next August about 600 kilometers from the island. The test would use special equipment deployed from a depot ship to vacuum manganese nodules from the seabed within an area of about 250,000 square meters. The company aims to collect up to 7,500 tons of nodules without raising them to the surface and also plans to assess potential environmental impacts.
China Minmetals nodules off Hawaii
A separate state-owned firm, China Minmetals Corp., plans another manganese nodule collection operation off Hawaii. The activity is scheduled between July and October. The plan calls for collecting around 1,300 tons of manganese nodules from the seabed.
Unlike the Minami-Torishima trial approach described for Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech, China Minmetals intends to raise several tons of nodules to the surface. This operation is also part of broader seabed resource efforts by Chinese companies operating under ISA exploration frameworks. Details on how environmental impacts will be assessed were not specified beyond the Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech plan.
Japan technology timeline for seabed mining
Japan is allowed to develop seabed resources within its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but its commercial rare earth development remains at an early stage. The Japanese government has set a target for commercial seabed mining to begin by fiscal year 2028. Small-scale experimental projects led by institutions including the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology are not expected to start until 2026 at the earliest.
Yasuhiro Kato, a professor at the University of Tokyo, said China’s large-scale experiments could result in mining technology becoming among the most advanced globally. He also said Japan should accelerate efforts to develop seabed resources using its advantage of having such resources within its EEZ.