David Cameron says seabed mining could be worth £40bn to Britain

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

David Cameron says seabed mining could be worth £40bn to Britain

Prime minister says UK can be at head of industry but chooses American defence firm to exploit new Pacific licence

Terry Macalister
The Guardian, Thursday 14 March 2013 14.39 EDT

David Cameron has pledged to put Britain at the forefront of a new international seabed mining industry, which he claimed could be worth £40bn to the UK economy over the next 30 years.

But the prime minister has chosen an American defence company – Lockheed Martin – to spearhead the drive to collect from the depths of the ocean the copper, nickel and rare earth minerals used in mobile phones and solar panels.

Russia and China also have licences to "mine" the ocean bed but Cameron said on Thursday: "With our technology, skills, scientific and environmental expertise at the forefront, this demonstrates that the UK is open for business as we compete in the global race."

Speaking at a launch at the Excel Centre in London's Docklands, he said talks were already under way with a potential supply chain of up to 100 British companies, even though the main activity will take place off the west coast of America.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/mar/14/david-cameron-seabed-mining-worth-40bn

[Cedric the Clam]

1. Environmental Impact

What would be the environmental impact of seabed mining?

I doubt it would be good for ocean life, which is already taxed to the limit by human activities.

[Phlem]

2. This is a BAD idea!

Environmental impact to say the least but there have been great extinctions in the past during man's youth where 99% of their sustenance came from the sea. That's just one reason.

-p

[Smilo]

3. Cameron is such a tool

and such a kowtowing s.o.b. to any corporation.

He is working so hard at destroying Britain and sadly most Brits don't even realize it.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Looks like they're intentionally TRYING to destroy the planet.

These are one sick pack of SOB's.

IMO

[aquart]

5. The British Isles need edible fish.

Really they do.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. But this is to explore in the Pacific Ocean

Why the hell the UK government is cooperating with an American subsidiary to look for minerals in the Pacific, I can't tell. We're supposed to be in 'austerity' mode, with government spending cut, but those cuts seem to apply to benefits for individuals, while foreign companies get help to explore on the other side of the world - even if they find something, and can mine it without ruining the environment, the jobs won't be in the UK.

[aquart]

7. So they're ruining someone else's fish?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. That's what it seems like

They claim it's safe, of course.