There is a growing industrial interest in exploring deep-sea mineral deposits, such as poly-metallic nodules. Future developments will be faced with unprecedented challenges and possibilities in areas such as resource mapping, novel deep-sea extraction technologies, different support services, and sustainability and environmental management practices.
The event will provide an update on the state-of-the-art within deep-sea mining including:
- International and national resources and potentials
- R&D on resources and technology
- Legislative framework, licences and environmental compliance
- Operators and technology suppliers, prospects and experiences
- Debate, initiatives, public and private seed funding
Through brave entrepreneurship and close collaboration, Norway has developed world-class subsea, maritime and marine solutions that serve the global markets. Some are already active within deep-sea mining. With our strong ocean clusters, we have a unique opportunity to take a leading position within this new industry. The goal of this event is to cross-link our strong clusters with the leading international expertise within this new and challenging field.
Time: April 28, 2016, 09:00 – 16:00
Location: Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport, Bergen
PROGRAM
08:30 Registration and Coffee
09:00 Welcome and Introduction
09:15-11:25 RESOURCES AND POTENTIALS, INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL, Chair Jon O. Hellevang Senior Subsea Innovator GCE Subsea
09:15 – Nautilus Minerals – John Parianos, Chief Geologist, Nautilus Minerals is the first company to commercially explore the seafloor for massive sulphide systems, a potential source of high grade copper, gold, zinc and silver. Nautilus is developing a production system using existing technologies adapted from the offshore oil and gas industry, dredging and mining industries to enable the extraction of these high grade Seafloor Massive Sulphide systems on a commercial scale. John Parianos will give an update on Nautilus Minerals’ mining operations outside Papua New Guinea, and focus on the adaption of technologies from offshore petroleum and other industries.
09:50 – UK Seabed Resources/Lockheed Martin – Dr. Ralph Spickermann, Chief Engineer. UK Seabed Resources, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin UK, has been granted an exploration contract by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for an area of 58,000km2 of the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton zone for polymetallic nodules over a period of fifteen years. Ralph Spickermann represents the central project management team for these operations. Spickerman will give a status on the activities, challenges and requirements.
10:25 Break and refreshments
10:50 – University of Bergen (UiB) – Dr. Rolf Birger Pedersen, Professor and Department Director. Basic and applied research related to seabed geological formations and geobiological resources are prioritized research areas at the UiB, and subsea volcanic formations in North-West Atlantic seabed areas between Jan Mayen and Iceland/Greenland have received special attention. Rolf Birger Pedersen was among the initiators and the first leader of the Centre of Geobiology (CGB) at UiB when established in 2007 through the Centre of Excellence Scheme of the Research Council of Norway. He will give a status on the research activities and a reflections on possibil mining resources.
11:25-13:25 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, LICENCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, Chair Tor Solberg Senior Advisor Uni Reserch
11:25 – Norwegian Petroleum Directorate – Harald Brekke, Senior Geologist. Norwegian and international legal frameworks for deep sea mining activities are under development. In Norway the Petroleum Directorate has a central role in these processes. In international waters outside the borders of national jurisdictions the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the legal entity which authorizes licenses for the exploitation of seabed resources. Harald Brekke exhibits many years of expertice on the identification and management of coastal states continental shelf borderlines, and is appointed as Norway’s ISA representative. He will give an update on status and further development of national and international legal frameworks for seabed mining.
12:00 Lunch
13:00 – Uni Research AS – Dr. Thomas Dahlgren, Associate Professor and Senior Scientist Uni Research and University of Gothenburg. Uni Research exhibits more than 40 years experience on research and monitoring of environmental effects from anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem. Dr. Thomas Dahlgren expertice covers marine ecology with emphasis on benthic invertebrate biodiversity. Over the last years he has been engaged as environmental specialist during exploration of polymetallic nodule deposits in the Pacific Ocean. He will give a status on environmental challenges, practicies and legal frameworks for deep sea mining.
13:30-15:05 NORWEGIAN TECHNOLOGY ACTORS, Chair Gisle Nondal R&D Manager GCE Subsea
13:30 – Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) – Dr. Ingrid Schjølberg, Professor and Director of NTNU Oceans. NTNU is a national leading institution for basic and industry directed research on the development of mineral resources, and hosts the MarMine project awarded by the Norwegian Research Council in 2015, which focuses on minerals and metals on the Norwegian continental shelf. The aim of the project is to identify at least one promising field for the exploration of minerals from the seabed, and to identify suitable technologies for the recovery and processing of the minerals. Professor Ingrid Schjølberg will give an update on MarMine and related activities at NTNU.
14:00 Break and refreshments
14:30 – Kongsberg Maritime AS – Morten Berntsen, Director Sales. Kongsberg Maritime is a developer and producer of advanced technologal systems for underwater operations such as AUVs, Echosounders, different sonars, dynamic positioning systems, cameras, lights and more. Kongsberg Maritime already is a supllier of technological equipment and systems to offshore mining actors, and Morten Berntsen will give a view both on history and future market potentials within seabed mining.
14:50 – Scanmudring AS – Arild Ariansen, Managing Director. Scanmudring is a developer and operator of bottom-dwelling vehicles and accessories for excavation and removal of seabed deposits. The equipment is developed in cooperation with mining and offshore operators, and Scanmudring participates as industry partner in the NTNU MarMine project. Arild Ariansen will give his view on future requirements and possibilities within seabed mining.
15:10 Debate, Initiatives, Public and Private funding possibilities, Way forward, Tor Solberg Senior Advisor Uni Reserch .
16:00 End
The event is sponsored by the VRI Hordaland Innovation dialog. The event is organised in cooperation with Hordaland Fylkeskommune, Uni Research and the University of Bergen.