My Perspective: Deep sea mining in Tonga is still exploration, but questions run deep

Deep sea mining is one of the most complex and contentious issues facing the Pacific today and my home in the shoreland, Tonga, is right at the centre of it.

Last week, Tonga's parliament held a national dialogue on the matter and I give credit to Tonga's Speaker, Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua, for holding this dialogue. It's the third dialogue that he's held as the Speaker and this year's first one was held last week, which was on deep sea mining.

They had people from both sides of the argument, legal experts and people from Tonga Offshore Limited, which is an entity owned by the metals company. On one hand, Tonga is sitting on a potentially valuable resource: the polymetallic nodules on the seafloor.

Which is rich in cobalt, nickel and other critical minerals. This could offer significant economic benefits, but these are the very materials needed to power green technologies like electric vehicles and batteries.

Critics argue that these minerals have since decreased in value following 2020.Supporters of deep sea mining also argue that Tonga should have the right to responsibly develop its own resources. They say that the potential revenue could support education, health and climate resilience - fair argument.

But there's a problem, especially when those same minerals that's promised to bring economic resilience are declining in value. It’s an argument that's been presented by legal experts and there are some serious concerns too that are not just environmental.

While the science on the long term ecosystem impact is still emerging, many scientists are calling for caution and concerns about transparency, local consent and whether communities fully understand the risks.

Something I find interesting, is if you go on the Tonga Offshore Mining Limited Facebook page, it's filled with people that they're sending to school, scholarships and community initiatives that they're sponsoring with thousands of dollars.

So the community do find this in favour because they're investing in the communities, but there's also the governance challenges. The international company operating in Tonga's water, the metals company, has drawn scrutiny over its financial practices and environmental safeguards.

Again, it all comes down to communication. That's why dialogue, like the one held in Parliament last week, is so important. This isn't just about yes or no, it's about how we have the conversation, who's at the table and who is being heard and respected.

What Tonga needs now is not division, but clarity. More independent science and public education, such as the dialogue held last week. I'd like to see those kinds of dialogues being presented in schools because these environmental impacts won't be felt by the current generation, but future generations.

Another thing that really needs to be clarified in Tonga is that mining is currently not going ahead, but in its exploration phase. This isn't just a technical or political issue, it's about the kind of future Tonga chooses for its people, ocean and place in the world.

That’s My Perspective.