The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), a German government-sponsored exploration contractor, has announced the upcoming stakeholder consultations for the environmental impact statement (EIS) regarding the small-scale testing of an advanced, AI-controlled nodule harvester. The testing will take place in the eastern BGR contract area of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located in the northeast Pacific. BGR is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing the environmental monitoring and assessment program as part of its exploration activities.
The consultation period will run for six weeks, from January 20 to March 2, 2025, following international best practices. As part of the process, BGR will host two webinars toward the end of the consultation period to further engage stakeholders. Details regarding the exact dates and times of the webinars will be published on BGR’s website soon. These sessions will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the planned activities and raise questions or concerns.
The EIS will focus on the planned in situ test of the Eureka III, an autonomous, image-controlled robotic underwater nodule harvester. The test, which is set to take place in January-February 2026, will cover an area of no more than 250 meters by 45 meters (11,250 m²) over a period of four days. The primary objective of the test is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of selectively harvesting polymetallic nodules while simultaneously assessing the potential environmental impacts of the operation.
This public consultation will allow stakeholders to review the EIS and provide feedback. All comments will be documented, including the identity of the commenter, the date of receipt, the method of communication, and the content of the comments. The response from BGR will outline how the feedback was considered and whether it led to any amendments to the EIS or adjustments in the testing plan. A summary table will be provided to compile the feedback and responses.
The initiative is part of BGR’s ongoing commitment to transparent and responsible environmental management in its exploration activities, ensuring that the impacts of new technologies like the Eureka III harvester are carefully considered and monitored.
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