What to make of Trump's deep-sea minerals push

What this episode covers

Hans Smith, president and CEO of Ocean Minerals, discusses the state of deep-sea mining following the Trump administration's executive order. He explains that while the order raises visibility, the U.S. faces regulatory bottlenecks and a lack of exploration infrastructure compared to leaders like the Cook Islands and Japan. Smith details the technical reality of extracting polymetallic nodules, noting that refining relies on existing chemical processes rather than new inventions, and argues that the high grade of the minerals makes the project economically viable despite high capital costs.