In his keynote address to participants attending the Polymetallic Nodules Resources Classification Workshop, ISA Secretary-General Nii Odunton stressed the importance of the workshop and its outcome.
Secretary-General Odunton said he hoped that the outcome of the week-long workshop would form the basis of standards for resource classification, facilitate the provision of resources data and provide a partial basis for the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission to consider and make recommendations to the Council.
Workshop participants were welcomed by Dr. S. Rajan of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES).
The Resources Classification Workshop is jointly organized by the International Seabed Authority and the Ministry of Earth Sciences in Goa from 13-17 October 2014.
The objectives of the workshop are to:
(i) Ascertain the work being undertaken by contractors for polymetallic nodule exploration and resource data required in Section 11of the standard clauses of Exploration contracts;
(ii) Review current practice in labd-based mineral development on national reporting standards for exploration results and resource classification;
(iii) Identify special aspects of polymetallic nodule deposits that should be addressed in resource reporting standards;
(iv) Identify any issues arising from differences in national reporting standards to which the Authority should respond;
(v) Assist contractors to identify and implement best practices in polymetallic nodule resource evaluation;
(vi) Identify work to be completed by contractors to fulfil item (i);
(vii) Determine the time required to fulfil item (v) and,
(viii) Provide guidance to the ISA regarding relations with mineral information standards organizations including potential cooperation with CRIRSCO’s work.
