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

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-06-06
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 54
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/vnw4lx38-deep-sea-mining-oliver-gunasekara

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=3) Introduction and Guest Background
- [2:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=128) Motivation for Climate Tech and Deep Sea Mining
- [4:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=266) Environmental Impact and Necessity of Mining
- [10:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=602) Impossible Metals' Autonomous Collection Technology
- [23:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=1415) Technical Challenges: Pressure, Corrosion, and Navigation
- [27:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=1632) Robot Design: Vision Systems and Robotic Arms
- [29:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=1795) Development Milestones: Eureka 1 and Eureka 2
- [32:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-06-06-deep-sea-mining-a-responsible-approach-to-resource-extraction-with-oliver-gunase#t=1960) Business Model, Permitting, and Financing

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Impossible Metals (company)
- Arm (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Y Combinator (company)
- 2G Robotics (company)
- C-band (company)
- International Seabed Authority (company)
- Cook Islands (company)
- Eureka 1 (product)
- Eureka 2 (product)
- Eureka 3 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Mining the deep sea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-07-27-mining-the-deep-sea) (Catalyst)
- [What to make of Trump's deep-sea minerals push](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-22-what-to-make-of-trumps-deep-sea-minerals-push) (Catalyst)
- [Episode 99: Robots mapping the deep ocean - Joe Wolfel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-11-22-episode-99-robots-mapping-the-deep-ocean-joe-wolfel) (Robot Talk)
- [Autonomous submarines for ocean exploration; drone autonomy with Exyn Technologies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-12-03-autonomous-submarines-for-ocean-exploration-drone-autonomy-with-exyn-technologie) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Nic Radford on developing underwater robots; Celebrating 100 episodes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-12-01-nic-radford-on-developing-underwater-robots-celebrating-100-episodes) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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