2026-09-14 22:30:58 / 路透社
休斯敦9月14日电（路透社）——特朗普政府周一暗示，其即将批准深海采矿许可，这是美国扩大获取本国经济各领域所需关键矿产的整体战略的一部分。
美国内政部长道格·伯根姆在休斯敦举行的G20能源部长会议期间表示，随着政府推行“能源扩容”战略以拓宽本国及盟友的供应链，相关许可可能在数月内下发。
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自去年重返白宫以来，总统唐纳德·特朗普已采取措施扶持新兴的深海采矿行业，但迄今尚未颁发正式运营许可。
海底采矿即将获批的前景令众多环保人士感到担忧，他们担心此举可能造成不可逆转的生物多样性损失。
据估算，太平洋部分海域及其他区域蕴藏着大量形似土豆的多金属结核，这些结核中含有制造电动汽车、武器和电子产品的关键原材料。
“我们只需将这些结核从（海）床表面抽吸上来，它们就蕴含着我们所需的全部关键矿产，”伯根姆说道，“当然，这其中一部分工作是确保我们能获得多样化、安全且价格合理的关键矿产供应。”
过去18个月，美国获取关键矿产的渠道——尤其是由中国企业加工的矿产——有所减少，原因是北京方面限制了出口。这反过来加大了华盛顿方面支持国内采矿产业发展的压力。
当被问及联邦政府何时能颁发深海采矿许可时，伯根姆表示：“相关磋商正在进行中”，并补充道，“未来几周及数月内您将获得更多消息，因为该领域即将出现一些令人振奋的进展。”
伯根姆领导的内政部下辖海洋矿产管理局，该局负责审批美国领海内的所有采矿许可。
海洋矿产管理局的审批流程将首先通过租赁拍卖，授予私营企业对部分海床的独家采矿权，随后再进入运营许可审议环节，该环节将综合考量各类科学数据。
此外，特朗普政府计划让商务部颁发国际采矿许可，这一举措可能与联合国支持的国际海底管理局产生冲突。该机构25多年来一直致力于制定深海采矿相关标准。
已正式申请海底采矿许可的企业包括金属公司（TMC.O）以及私营企业 Impossible Metals。另有数家企业已申请勘探许可。
US aims to issue deep-sea mining permits within months, Interior Secretary Burgum says
2026-09-14 22:30:58 / Reuters
HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) – The Trump administration on Monday signaled it is nearing approval for permits to mine the deep sea, part of a broader push to boost U.S. access to the critical minerals used across much of the country’s economy.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said during a gathering of G20 energy ministers in Houston that permits could come within months as the administration pursues a strategy of “energy addition” to expand supply chains for the country and allies.
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Since returning to office last year, President Donald Trump has taken steps to bolster the nascent deep-sea mining industry, although he has yet to issue operational permits for it to proceed.
The specter of seabed mining being allowed to commence has alarmed many environmentalists due to concern it could cause irreversible biodiversity loss.
Parts of the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere are estimated to contain large amounts of potato-shaped rocks known as polymetallic nodules that contain the building blocks for electric vehicles, weapons and electronics.
“Those nodules that we just have to go out and vacuum up off the (sea) floor are filled with these critical minerals that we need,” Burgum said. “And of course, part of that is assuring that we’ve got diverse, secure, affordable supply of critical minerals.”
U.S. access to critical minerals — especially those processed by Chinese companies — has dwindled in the past 18 months as Beijing has limited exports. That, in turn, has ratcheted up pressure on Washington to support efforts to boost domestic mining.
When asked when the federal government could issue deep-sea permits, Burgum said: “Those discussions are going on right now,” adding that, “You’ll be hearing more in the weeks and months ahead because there’s some exciting developments that are coming on that front.”
Burgum’s Interior Department oversees the Marine Minerals Administration, which must approve any permits to mine U.S. territorial waters.
The MMA review process would start with a lease sale to give private companies exclusive access to mine part of the seabed. That would be followed by a process to consider an operational permit, which would take into account a range of scientific data.
Separately, Trump aims to have the Commerce Department issue international permits, a step that could set up a clash with the United Nations-backed International Seabed Authority, which has been trying to set standards for more than 25 years.
Companies that have formally asked for seabed mining permits include The Metals Company
(TMC.O)
and privately held Impossible Metals. Several others have applied for exploration permits.
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