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

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-05-22
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [3:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=190) Introduction and Executive Order Context
- [6:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=366) Regulatory Frameworks: US vs International Waters
- [16:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=976) US Exploration Bottlenecks and Regulatory Models
- [20:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=1210) Global Leaders: Cook Islands and Japan
- [23:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=1400) Environmental Impact and Baseline Data
- [25:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=1558) Refining Polymetallic Nodules
- [29:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push#t=1773) Economics, Capex, and Commodity Volatility

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Ocean Minerals (company)
- Mahana Minerals (company)
- Cook Islands (other)
- Clarion-Clipperton Zone (other)
- International Seabed Authority (company)
- polymetallic nodules (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Deep Sea Mining: A Responsible Approach to Resource Extraction with Oliver Gunasekara](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

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