NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga -- More than 4 kilometers beneath the surface of the north Pacific Ocean lies what the tiny island of Nauru sees as a vast treasure chest -- a seabed studded with minerals that could pioneer an economic transformation for remote nations around the region. For others, accessing the trove would trigger environmental disaster.
The remote island of Nauru is working with The Metals Company (TMC), owner of the seabed minerals collector vehicle pictured on the left, on an application for what would be the world's first commercial deep-sea mining license. (Photo from AFP/Jiji and TMC website)
Policy Asia
Pacific islands split on deep-sea mining as first license application nears
Nauru's project targets vast seabed mineral reserves, but environment alarm grows
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