news?, page-23

Yes fair call Jalaspen, I do see your point of view, especially enviro activist risk. However it could also be argued that other countries are pushing ahead with sea-bed mining because potentially there are billions of $$$ to be made and NTM have (through no fault of thier own) been denied this

ie :
The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in partnership with UK Seabed Resources, obtained a licence and contract to explore a 58,000 sq km area of the Pacific Ocean for mineral-rich polymetallic nodules.

Prime Minister Cameron said: “The award of this exploration licence to UK Seabed Resources is excellent news for British companies and British scientists, and the Government is extremely pleased to have supported it.

“The UK is leading the way in this exciting new industry which has the potential to create specialist and supply chain jobs across the country and is expected to be worth up to £40bn to the UK economy over the next 30 years.”