Analysis of Major Policy Issues Raised by the Commercial Development of Ocean Manganese Nodules

摘要

This report analyzes deep seabed mining, its impact on world markets for nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese, and its likely reaction to various regulatory schemes. Markets for nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese are described; econometric models are estimated for market analysis. The technical and economic aspects of ocean nodule mining and processing are examined and investigations into the abundance of potential sites for ocean mining are summarized. Results of the study are used to assess the profitability of ocean mining under various economic, technical, and regulatory conditions.