Cobalt nodules off the Cook Islands: The black truffles of the South Seas

There are large mineral deposits off the Cook Islands – their mining could make the country less dependent on tourism. While the government is already dreaming of a deep-sea mining center, marine biologists are warning of the consequences.

“These things not only have great potential, they have huge potential,” says South African Hans Smit of Moana Minerals. He points to small, round, black sea nodules—large, deep-sea mineral aggregates that his company is researching on behalf of the Cook Islands government. The nodules are full of cobalt and nickel – metals that Germany also needs for its energy transition. Smit estimates that 20 to 30 percent of the world’s cobalt deposits are in the South Pacific. The black truffles of the South Seas are potentially a billion-dollar business.

Moana Minerals is one of three companies conducting a feasibility study on behalf of the Cook Islands Government. They should clarify in advance how the nodules can be collected from water depths of up to 5,000 meters – and what consequences the degradation would have for the ecological balance. Because the deep sea has hardly been explored so far. But Smit calls for pragmatism: “These metals are also available on land, but at a much higher price than on the seabed,” he says. “We have to analyze the data and facts carefully and choose the lesser evil.”

Marine biologist fears environmental damage

About 160 kilometers from one of the possible mining areas is the Lagoon of Aitutaki. The colorful underwater world there is already suffering from climate change and tourism, explains marine biologist Teina Rongo from the NGO “Korero O te Orau”: nobody knows exactly what the deep-sea mining is doing. Mankind is probably better acquainted with the moon than with the sea depths of 5000 meters. “We have no right to expect more from the ocean than we are already doing,” says Teina Rongo. “We should protect the sea, give it a chance to survive, to deal with what we are already doing to it.”

The marine biologist points to the shoreline where dredgers are going back and forth to widen Aitutaki’s port entrance. This leads to deposits and sediments under the water that destroy the coral, he warns. Even if sea tubers were mined in the deep sea, such problems could arise.

So far, the Cook Islands have lived primarily from their postcard idyll: more than 60 percent of government revenue comes from tourism. But that is exactly what worries the island state. Even the head of tourism, Karla Eggleton, says that the island state must position itself more broadly economically. “If Covid has taught us anything, it is that we are on our own. Nobody saves us. And we have a people and children to take care of,” she says. You will carefully consider “how to do it harmoniously”.

Premier Brown dreams of being at the top of the world

This fits in perfectly with the policy of Prime Minister Mark Brown, who drives an electric car. He sees a potential win-win situation: the West gets the metals for its energy transition and the Cook Islands much-needed government revenue. But nothing has been decided yet, he emphasizes, research is still being carried out. Nevertheless: “The moratorium, the postponement that many other countries want, is not the way. We don’t believe in burying our heads in the sand. According to the motto: It’s better not to know anything at all. We want to get to know our ocean .”

Brown deliberately speaks of “harvesting” the tubers, not “mining them” – that sounds too negative to him. He dreams of turning his small island nation into a center of excellence for marine research and deep-sea mining. The potential environmental problems just have to be dealt with properly, he believes and hopes: “We could maybe start deep-sea mining in five years. In ten years, the demand for these metals will be even greater and we could be leaders in the Pacific in the sustainable harvesting of these important metals Metals to supply the world – but protecting our ocean.”

“It’s about the indigenous way”

Deep-sea mining could bring a lot of prosperity to the population. But scientist Teina Rongo fears that the Cook Islands will then also lose their identity, their soul. “We adopt a lifestyle that doesn’t suit us and our environment,” he fears. “It’s about the indigenous way. Our ancestors have lived here for thousands of years – in harmony with our resources. We are currently questioning all of that.”

Teina Rongo prays that things will turn out differently. But the dichotomy between tradition and temptation seems particularly great right now.

You can see this and other reports on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the “Weltspiegel”.