The Government of the Republic of Nauru will be conducting a stakeholder consultation on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) developed by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) to conduct technical trials of a prototype nodule collector in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean next year, in 2022.
As the sponsoring State to NORI for its exploration contract for polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone signed with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Nauru will facilitate the consultation and allow interested stakeholders to discuss, review and comment on the EIS.
The consultation will be open from 5 October to 19 November 2021. An introductory webinar on 5 October 2021 will present to interested stakeholders NORI’s planned collector test campaign, the associated EIS and the engagement process. Results of the consultation and possible revisions to the EIS will be presented during a second webinar on 27 January 2022.
Under the Recommendations for the guidance of contractors for the assessment of the possible environmental impacts arising from exploration for marine minerals in the Area (ISBA/25/LTC/6/Rev.1 and Corr.1) the technical trial proposed by NORI requires prior environmental impact assessment and the submission of an EIS.
NORI’s contract was signed in July 2011 for a duration of 15 years. The proposed 60-day nodule collector test is a key part of NORI’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process. The one-fifth scale prototype vehicle will collect polymetallic nodules from the seafloor at a depth of 4,000-5,500 meters. During the collector test, the performance of the system and the ecological and environmental conditions will be monitored. The scientific, environmental and engineering data collected and lessons learned during the test are expected to increase understanding of the performance of the technology and potential effects on the deep-sea ecosystem. The collector test is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022, subject to incorporation of the EIS in NORI’s programme of activities under its exploration contract.
To access the Nauru’s Stakeholder consultation portal click here.
Read the full Environmental Impact Statement here.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm