Deep-sea metal mining in Cook Islands

A 1,000 tonne ship is doing some research around the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific. It's checking if it's possible to dig up these balls of metal, or 'polymetallic nodules'.

The nodules consist of metals like cobalt, nickel and manganese, which are used in batteries for electric cars and mobile phones. It's possibly big business, according to Hans Smit, from Moana Minerals.

Hans Smit: "The resource in our field is, is probably in the order of about $4 billion in, in potential value. So that's value, that doesn't mean how much money you're gonna make. Obviously, there's costs and so forth that go against it. But when we look at our economic analysis, the project is profitable."

Others, however, disagree. At present, the islands' turquoise waters and rich fish life bring in huge numbers of tourists, which provides 70 percent of the country's GDP.

Alanna Smith is an environmentalist who believes mining the nodules could be damaging. She's anxious about the future effect on her country and its economy.

Alanna Smith: "We'd really be the guinea pigs of this industry, going first in, blinded, I would say, by not really being made aware of the risks involved. So yeah, it could have long-term implications in terms of our credibility as a tourist destination. It's, it's a risky, risky move."

There are four areas where the nodules can be found. Three of these are located in international waters, but the waters off the islands' coast belong to the country itself. This means the nodules could be mined here fairly soon. And the development could bring huge benefits to islanders.

The Cook Islands are already experiencing the damaging effects of climate change, so the mining question is a difficult one. The minerals are essential for green energy. However, the effects of digging at 5,000 metres are unknown. View Less