The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr Nii A. Odunton says the level of interest in deep seabed mining has increased rapidly and significantly after decades of being ‘on hold’.

On 8 February 2013, the International Seabed Authority received an application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area from UK Seabed Resources Ltd., a private company. The application is sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 
The application covers an area of 149,815  square kilometres and is located in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Central Pacific Ocean. In accordance with the applicable regulations, the area has been divided by the applicant into two areas of equal estimated commercial value.
 
In accordance with the Authority’s Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area, the members of the Legal and Technical Commission will be notified of the above applications and consideration of the application will be placed on the agenda of the Commission at its next meeting, which is scheduled to commence on 8 July 2013.

H.E. Mr. Eduardo Bonilla presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Chile to the Secretary-General of the Authority, Mr. Nii Allotey Odunton on Tuesday, 5th March 2013.

On 6 February 2013, the International Seabed Authority received an application for approval of a plan of work for exploration for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

H.E. Mr. Ariel Fernández, presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr. Nii Allotey Odunton on Thursday, 28 February 2013.

The ISA Legal and Technical Commission began its week-long meeting on Monday 4 February 2013.

The International Seabed Authority and G-TEC Sea Mineral Resources NV (GSR) of Belgium signed a 15-year contract for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules on 14 January 2013.The contract was signed by the Secretary-General of the Authority, Nii Allotey Odunton and the Managing Director of GSR, Jacques Paynjon. Under the contract, GSR will have exclusive rights for exploration for polymetallic nodules over 76,728 square kilometres of the seabed in the eastern part of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the Central Pacific Ocean.

H.E. Mr Jorge Enrique Constantino Gonzalez presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Panama to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on Thursday 6 December 2012.

H.E. Mr.  Yasuo Takase presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of Japan to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on Wednesday 5 December 2012.