Deep Sea Mining: A Responsible Approach to Resource Extraction with Oliver Gunasekara

Hardware to Save a Planet · 6 Jun 2024 · 45m · Episode 54

What this episode covers

Oliver Gunasekara, Co-Founder and CEO of Impossible Metals, explains the company's approach to deep-sea mining using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to collect polymetallic nodules without harming marine ecosystems. He contrasts this with environmentally destructive dredging methods and discusses the economic advantages of high-grade seabed ore over land-based mining. Gunasekara outlines the technical challenges of operating at 6,000 meters, the regulatory landscape involving the International Seabed Authority, and the company's plan to secure off-take financing to build a commercial fleet by 2026.

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