TMC Commends U.S. Congress on Bill to “Provide Financial, Diplomatic, or Other Forms of Support for Seafloor Nodule Collection, Processing and Refining” and Advancing International Regulations for Seafloor Resources

• The Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act (RUSRA) calls for U.S. support for ‘responsible polymetallic nodule collection’ and the use of federal funding to establish domestic infrastructure to refine nodules into critical minerals for the energy transition and national defense.
• The legislation comes as American and allied auto and battery makers struggle to secure supplies of critical battery metals that comply with guidelines for incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, while metals demand for infrastructure and development continues to grow.
• The bill is endorsed by a coalition of leaders across the offshore energy industry, marine mineral exploration, and global research centers.
  

NEW YORK, March 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TMC the metals company Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC” or the “Company”), an explorer of the world’s largest estimated undeveloped source of critical battery metals, today welcomed the introduction of legislation by members of the House of Representatives calling for the U.S. to “support international governance of seafloor resource exploration and responsible polymetallic nodule collection by allied partners” and to “provide financial, diplomatic, or other forms of support for seafloor nodule collection, processing and refining.”

Sponsors of the bill, entitled the Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act (RUSRA), find that the “United States is falling behind in competitiveness within supply chains for critical defense and clean energy technologies”, and recognize that “the collection of seafloor nodules is integral to ensuring the United States does not continue its over-dependence" on adversarial nations.

Gerard Barron, Chairman and CEO of The Metals Company, said, “With commercial deep-sea nodule operations expected to begin soon, Congressional action to lay the foundation for processing and refining this remarkable resource is a game-changer. Additionally, we eagerly await the forthcoming Pentagon report on nodules as directed by the House Armed Services Committee. The Pentagon’s ability and willingness to support a feasibility study for a domestic refinery could help establish mineral independence for the U.S. in nickel, cobalt and manganese. The rising wave of support within Congress gives me confidence that there are multiple pathways for the country to support and potentially fund allied supply of nodule-derived critical minerals.”