Deepsea and offshore mining has been receiving increased attention recently. With declining oil prices, offshore service companies, shipping companies and yards/contractors are looking for new or alternative projects to focus on. In addition, volatile commodity prices and the large infrastructure investments required to make land-based mining in remote locations feasible mean that mining companies are seeking new ways to remain competitive and maximise returns for their investors. Continuing demand for access to mineral resources - such as rare earth elements, which are used in electronic devices in the communications, aerospace and defence industries and where the market has historically been controlled by Chinese interests - is driving companies to look for different ways to secure their supply. Add to this the fact that certain deepsea mining projects are beginning to take shape and move towards exploitation, it is worth taking some time to consider how these ventures could be structured and, in particular, what financing options might be available.
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