US-based The Metals Company (TMC) and Swiss marine contractor Allseas have signed an agreement to create the world’s first commercial system for collecting mineral nodules from the ocean floor. The contract covers the design, commissioning and operation of a system for extracting polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean. TMC plans to begin production by the end of 2027.
The system will be capable of processing 3 million wet tonnes of nodules per year. Two collectors will operate at depths of more than 4 kilometers. Allseas, which successfully completed pilot tests in 2022 by lifting 3,000 tonnes of nodules, will handle procurement, integration and operation of the entire system: collectors, launch and recovery systems, riser pipes, the vessel Hidden Gem and a transport ship. The Swiss contractor will finance a significant portion of the development and later recover costs from future mining revenues.
TMC CEO Gerard Barron called the agreement a cornerstone of the companies’ strategic alliance. According to him, the partners are moving from scientific and engineering milestones toward the world’s first commercial deep-sea mining operation. Conceptual and basic engineering for several key components — including risers, cables and launch systems — has already been completed. Tender processes are expected to begin soon, while subcontract awards are planned by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
The commercial system corresponds to the first development phase described in TMC’s preliminary feasibility study for the NORI-D project. The nodules will be transferred in bulk from vessel to vessel and then transported to onshore processing facilities.
Earlier, in May 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that TMC’s deep-sea mining application fully complied with regulatory requirements. This brings the company closer to obtaining final approval by early 2027.
Supporters of deep-sea mining argue that polymetallic nodules could provide nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese without the need for large open-pit mines on land. Critics warn that the impact on fragile ocean ecosystems remains poorly understood.
The contract between TMC and Allseas marks an important milestone on the path toward industrial-scale mineral extraction from the ocean floor.
Source: MINING.COM
Image: The Metals Company
