As anticipated, the Cook Islands Cabinet has formally approved the three seabed minerals (SBM) exploration licence applications from CIC Limited, CIIC Seabed Resources Limited and Moana Minerals Limited.

In a statement last night, Minister for Seabed Minerals, Prime Minister Mark Brown said: “This is a historic milestone for our country – the first SBM exploration licences granted by the Cook Islands.”

Cabinet met on Tuesday to consider the exploration licences. In addition to the licence documentation, they received a presentation from the Seabed Minerals Authority (Authority) explaining the steps taken during the licensing process. 

The licensing process has taken 16 months, involving numerous internal and independent checks and balances, with a series of decisions and recommendations split across the Authority, the SBM Licensing Panel, the SBM Advisory Committee, the Minister and Cabinet.

Over 50 consultations and countless meetings were held, between government officials, advisors, the exploration companies and other stakeholders.

PM Brown said: “Cabinet was impressed with the robust and comprehensive licensing process undertaken. This helped lead to our decision to grant these SBM exploration licences.”

“My vision has always been for the Cook Islands to lead the way in the sustainable and responsible development of SBM. If undertaken properly, it has the potential to make a significant contribution over the coming years to our country’s social, environmental and economic wellbeing. It is pleasing to see this vision slowly but surely coming to fruition”.

Seabed Minerals Advisory Committee chair, Bishop Tutai Pere remarked: “We almost certainly would not have come this far, had it not been for the astounding drive and bold and unwavering leadership of our Prime Minister Mark Brown, his Cabinet and the government of the Cook Islands.”

“Leaving the legal and scientific tasks in the hands of the Authority, our primary role as the Advisory Committee was to ensure that each and every member of our Cook Islands communities and population is reached and provided with the necessary information and understanding on SBM Exploration,” said Bishop Pere.

Local environment group, Te Ipukarea Society, who expected the licences to be granted to the three companies, had earlier called for full conditions of the exploration licence to be made available to the public.

Last week, the Seabed Minerals Commissioner, Alex Herman said if any of the licences were approved and issued, the licence conditions would be made publicly available. 

Herman said the conditions would be entered into the Authority’s register of titles.

“This is in line with the transparent licensing process we have undertaken since we launched this process in October 2020.”

The Society’s technical director Kelvin Passfield said “it sounds promising” that the licence conditions will be made public.

Passfield said the group was still concerned about any legal action the companies might take if they are not awarded the full-scale commercial licence.

“I think as long as we see them (the conditions) after they’re issued, we can take them to task if there are things in there that we don’t like.

“It’s still only exploration so that’s the good thing, they’re (companies) still not allowed to do anything too destructive without an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment).”

In yesterday’s statement, the Authority said exploration research will be fundamental to understanding the Cook Islands deep-sea environment and nodule resource. The science will be needed to understand any impacts potential future minerals harvesting may have on the deep sea environment, it added.

Between 1974 and 2007, 21 exploration expeditions were carried out in Cook Islands waters. In comparison, there are over 60 exploration expedition legs planned over the next five years.

Brown said: “To be clear, Government is only allowing exploration at this stage, and has not made any decisions on whether future minerals harvesting may proceed.”

“We will continue to proceed with caution, taking actions based on the best available science, to sustainably manage our SBM resources for the benefit of our people.”

With Cabinet’s decisions, an Exploration Licence Granting ceremony is planned for Wednesday, February 23.

Herman said: “We are mindful that we are marking this momentous occasion in the context of Covid. We want to invite all our Cook Islands public to share in this celebration.”

“However, with Covid in the Cook Islands, we will have a limited event in line with Te Marae Ora’s policies to ensure that this is a safe event for participants.”

The Authority will be livestreaming the ceremony on its Facebook page, and encourages everyone to tune in online.