PLP: Deep Sea Mining Would Diversify Economy
“Deep sea mining represents the opportunity to add millions of dollars to our economy and assist in paying down the national debt all while protecting existing jobs and creating new opportunities for Bermudians,” Shadow Minister Glenn Blakeney said.
Deep sea mining is a relatively new industry which involves extracting minerals, metals and other commodities from the ocean floor.
Earlier this week, the BBC reported, “Plans to open the world’s first mine in the deep ocean have moved significantly closer to becoming reality.
“A Canadian mining company has finalised an agreement with Papua New Guinea to start digging up an area of seabed. The controversial project aims to extract ores of copper, gold and other valuable metals from a depth of 1,500m.”
Mr. Blakeney said, “The news that New Guinea has entered the deep sea mining industry should serve as a wake up call to Bermuda and spur us to action on this lucrative, untapped industry.
“As part of our new ideas and solutions to diversify our economy and create opportunities for Bermudians, the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party has been pushing for the development of a “Blue Economy,” which includes Deep Sea Mining.”
Photo of a deep sea mining operation courtesy of Nautilus Minerals:
“Deep sea mining represents the opportunity to add millions of dollars to our economy and assist in paying down the national debt all while protecting existing jobs and creating new opportunities for Bermudians,” added Mr. Blakeney.
“The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party believes that while we sit idle,other countries are leaving us behind. We must take action on solutions that benefit our people and shift from the current focus of slashing civil servant jobs, cutting salaries and scaling back programs that benefit Bermudians.
“Deep sea mining will create new jobs, diversify our economy and create a new revenue stream. This is a real solution, to the real problem facing Bermudians who are beginning to feel like second class citizens in their own country.”
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Category: All, Environment, News, Politics
This is a great way to kill the coastline, reef system and all pelagic fish. You think that a few “greaseballs) on the beach were bad, wait until these rigs come along and spill oil and other chemicals into the sea that will wash up on the beaches along with all the corpses of innocent animals it has killed along the way. Great solution….
It isn’t a threat whatsoever if it is properly managed and regulated.
But it is decades away from being viable in Bermuda so it is a moot point.
I agree.
Just like the oil drilling industry is regulated and managed in the Gulf of Mexico, or the coal mining industry in Kentucky or the nuclear energy industry in Japan or the ferry industry in Korea. Regulations work wonders to keep people and the environment safe.
@Family Man…
The ferry industry in Korea?
Talk safety to the families of victims of this most recent ferry disaster in South Korea. The crew abandoned the predominantly teenager passengers to die. Later the texts messages from those teens, realising that they were about to die as they waited in vain for help on the ferry were made public. But instead the crew saved themselves and left the teenagers, without directions and/or instructions, to die.
Pardon the digression, but you did say regulations on these industries? So, how did it help the nuclear meltdown in Japan after their most devastating storm incapacitated their nuclear plant?
They (regulations) work wonders you say. NO, the regulator comes in after the disaster to make reforms and set out new policies that have the force of law. There is nothing proactive about these industries on the safety front as each disaster, natural and/or manmade, is unique in its own way and creates its own set of challenges.
Environmental safety is a retroactive part of all these industries and, as one disaster occurs the industry learns and readapt to make our environment safety, but it happens in hindsight.
London, England
Valirie, that is the exact point he was making. He was using ironic language in order to convey scorn for the previous statement that it would be “properly regulated”.
1) This is not a serious suggestion but pure politics so the PLP can say we have thought of something.
2) What studies have been made and released that show the “wealth” waiting to be mined?
3) Papua New Guinea is a huge area and has onshore mines for these minerals (that the locals continue to strike/protest against) because of the damage to the environment.
4) What skills do Bermudians have to conduct such mining? Hartley’s Helmet diving plus shovel is not enough.
5) At best it is bottle some pink sand (minus greaseballs and the rest) and sell that.
So Al what exactly will they be mining?
Quite, so let’s get on with something else. Also, it may never happen here, it is interesting that no-one is looking here.
“It isn’t a threat whatsoever”… boggles the mind!
There are onshore mines with huge amounts of heavy metal pollution in water sources around them and you think by adding the ocean currents, undersea mining would not be “a threat whatsoever”.
Did you even think before writing such gibberish!
As for “properly” managed and regulated out in the middle of the ocean, do you mean in the same way that invasive commercial fishing boats are currently managed and regulated? If so, then our marine environment will likely become a dead zone in short order!
Wake up and smell the bulls**t being shovelled here. Stop behaving like a mushroom and try doing some critical thinking!
Mining for what? What is down there that will make money for Bermuda?
Who in Bermuda has the money and technology to exploit whatever we are going to be mining?
If the answer to the above question is that the money would come in from foreigners and they would require experienced technicians and staff from outside then how does this help Bermuda?
I agree what is it that has been discovered down in the deep seas around Bermuda which has a value that would justify such an expensive project as deep sea mining.
We need to know about what geographical surveys have taken place?
*If the answer to the above question is that the money would come in from foreigners and they would require experienced technicians and staff from outside then how does this help Bermuda?*
Agree entirely . The PLP and their supporters are already over the top xenophobic towards IB who actually bring money to us without taking anything away.
Just imagine when licenses are granted to deep sea mining companies .
Won’t be hiring any Bermudians and they’ll be taking stuff away that was ours and giving us pennies on the dollar for it !
Then you’ll hear a different line from them .
Well said. That is exactly what will happen – most of the money will disappear overseas. Blakeny has not done his research at all
Actually it’s more likely that deep sea mining would destroy our marine environment for generations to come and cause devastation to our economy.
No, it wouldn’t. That’s 100% pure scaremongering based on no facts whatsoever.
Yes, it would. All that is required is a little lateral thinking. Compare on shore mining pollution and then add the dispersal system of ocean currents and, hey presto, you have widespread marine devastation.
This is not rocket science, just simple common sense.
How do you know? The fact is there is no deep sea mining taking place right now. No-one knows the effect but people do know that you need clean water for our coral reefs to survice
How will this affect the life down there?! Isn’t this taking away homes & vegetation growth spots under the sea?
Not too sure I like this idea.
What dumb idea will PLP come up with next? Ash trays on rental bikes maybe?
If this is a REAL opportunity then how can Bermudians acquire the necessary skills to gain employment in this proposed new industry?
First, I’d like to know the results of the Public Consultation on creating variations of a marine reserve in our EEZ.
Second, I’d like to know if the previous administration have already given a contract to a certain company to search and/or (subcontract?) mining our waters and what the details of that contract are. For example, what percentage of any potential profits are contracted to Bermuda and what percentage to the company in question?
Third, I keep reading the scaremongering of the usual handful of posters on Bernews go on about the supposed excessive costs to Bermuda of setting up and monitering a marine protected reserve in our EEZ. Any thoughts on the infrastructure costs to Bermuda of setting up this pie-in the sky operation?
This is a great comment.
There would be no need for infrastructure costs in Bda – the minerals go straight to a mother ship on the ocean surface where they are cleaned (the waste is dumped) and then off she goes. It won’t land stuff here….
Is there a report on if these materials exist in Bermuda territorial waters? If so can someone link it so we can read some facts? Another issue is that this industry currently does not exist, anywhere on earth with only one Canadian company getting rights to New Guinea….yet the PLP says without a doubt that this industry will work in Bermuda, there are the minerals here etc….pretty sure of themselves.
Also find major irony in the fact that recent PLP posts have said NO to foreign business yet they suggest bringing in a 100% foreign business that would require capital in the 100s of millions of dollars and would require relief from the 60/40 rule to even get research capital to assess our waters with 100% foreign staff, vessels etc….Is this a new policy stance for the PLP?
I can only assume the PLP believe that harvesting asteroids that come close to earth for precious minerals is a project that Bermuda should be in on. Think of the jobs in the rocket industry for bermudian workers!!!!
next.
The PLP were the ones who wanted to give away our EEZ in exchange for a photo opportunity with the Blue Halo scheme.
This week they are advocating mining.
They don’t know what they want.
“The PLP were the ones who wanted to give away our EEZ in exchange for a photo opportunity with the Blue Halo scheme.”
And there it is – misinformation and scaremongering of the usual handful of posters.
yeah it would diversify the economy…but it would **** up the ocean even more…neeeeeeeeeeeeext!
If there were minerals in the deep sea then they would be under our feet too, in the Bermuda volcanic cone. Are they really proposing we dig ourselves out of our home? Also one mine in the Pacific does not indicate everywhere is suitable for mining. No one is mining the vast methane hydrates field East of Florida that is known and very valuable presumably as costs are to high
The PLP grip on reality continues to loosen.
It’s already proven that there is nothing on the seabed around Bermuda. The Russians have come, found nothing and left. This is Political Pandering 101, PLP.
“Oh look at us…we have an idea to create jobs”. Whatever.
i just want to make sure i have this straight – the PLP based on the fact that New Guinea are starting deep sea mining think that this is a good opportunity for bermuda to diversify!?? Great!! on the basis of this “logic” i propose we tear down the Fairmont hotels and start digging for gold as that also has been found in other places in the world – also we need to start drilling offshore for oil!! Yes lets damage or ruin the most northerly reef system in the world so that we can mine for stuff we dont even know is there – can we please stop being so obstructive and protect what we do have!
There is Blakeney….disappeared since the election and now an expert on deep sea mining? Right
Casinos would diversify our economy you idiot.
Money
This would solve all our monetary woes….then the plp could spend it before they get it!
I’m so confused:
“When we say that the OBA’s polices are not looking out for the real Bermudians, we are saying that their policies seemingly put foreign interests first; while selling the notion that trickle down economics is in our interests while failing to provide avenues to further empower ourselves. So ask yourself, are you real or do you pretend?
- Marc Daniels”
“Deep sea mining will create new jobs, diversify our economy and create a new revenue stream. This is a real solution, to the real problem facing Bermudians who are beginning to feel like second class citizens in their own country.”
Glenn Blakeney
Can Mr. Blakeney please explain how Bermudians will obtain jobs in this brand new industry? It’s not like you can take a graduate of Cedarbridge & drop them down 6,000′in de Bermuda Triangle with a Seagull outboard and expect them to come up with gold…
I have an idea for the PLP. How about we get into offshore oil drilling? It would employ lots of people, diversify our economy, and make us all rich. It must be possible here, because it happens in the North Sea.
Blakeney can take this idea and announce it as his own. I don’t even want any credit for it.
Worst thing we could do is create a commodity economy – imagine the corruption and bloated government then! Think Nigeria or Venezuela and you will see what I mean.
I’ve got an even better idea.
Where the quarry is, turn it into a gold mine. Gold is very valuable. Or maybe a diamond mine? Diamonds are valuable too.
This would create employment, diversify the economy, and make everyone rich.
In fact I have no idea why we haven’t thought about this before.
I think the PLP should take up this idea straight away. You don’t want the OBA getting wind of great ideas like this.
Wow,more gibberish.
Deep sea micing.
Pay off our national debt and who caused our debt….. right the same people that think this is a good idea oh my!
And how will this guarantee bermudian jobs, cheeshummms we cant even get bermudians on our hospital construction site without the contractors manipulating the work permit situations. 99% of they jobs are guaranteed to go to foreign workers.
Of course there are plenty of experts willing to drop everything and move to Bermuda for Six Years Only and live in an expat compound because the PLP have called them… Nice idea guys but you better make it worth the expert’s while. Or is this just another scheme for a quick buck from you know who…
The fact that this has been proposed as a viable and beneficial option scares me. Our environment is being destroyed in so many ways and he wants to add this to the list.
There is so called regulation in mining yes but just because there is regulation it does not mean it is safe, wise or good for the environment or us.
Please wake up; it is this type of ignorant thinking that is destroying the environment. No amount of so called jobs or financial gain would make this idea even worth considering.
I would imagine that it would also damage Bermuda’s reputation with those individuals who have an awareness of the real effects of such practices.
More Smoke and mirrors o distract the public away from the real 2+ billion issues.
hey aren’t we on top of a volcano so deep sea would take us down to the bottom of the volcano causing an eruption and causing other islands to spit out thus making our island have more land then we can connect them, and have 15 or 20 parishes ………
There’s only 2 individuals that have a vested interest in this and they are the ones that will benefit from it. If you create a marine reserve everybody in Bermuda benefits including the commercial fisherman. The politicians are talking about it because they have no idea how to get Bermuda out of the mess that they put it in so it’s easier to play the blame game and say if we had the power we would solve all your problems with this. BS.
Amazing.. all 38 coments above are from people who are against this idea of offshore drilling….not one from the plp suporters who think its such a good idea….only goes to show what a f@#$%d up idea it really is…. they cant even rebut and answer any of the questions asked…. PIE IN THE SKY!!!!!!! SMH
This is sooooo funny. We must not sit idly by…. so the metals on the ocean floor were not there when the PLP was in power? LMAO.
But seriously, folks…. has Mr Blakeney been down there to have a look for himself? Does he know that there is stuff down there? Does he know how much it costs? Does he know the problems the PNG Govt had? Does he know how much opposition there was? Does he know exactly how much Bermuda will benefit? Does he know how much damage could be caused? Does he know that waste will not wash up on our shores damaging our coral and therefore our USP?
Does he talk a LOT of BS?
What a joke.
This is the deep level of thinking and decision making that has got us into the mess we are in today. Even Bermuda’s leading proponent of deep sea mining is saying it is 5-10 years away from being feasible. in other words, right now it does not work. Let someone else be on the cutting edge for a change.
What studies from recognised specialists in this field state that there is any viability for this type of open face mining in the waters surrounding Bermuda?
Can Mr Blakeney, on his own, give us a meaningful SWAT analysis showing why the leaders of the party came up with the decision to make this party platform material?
I thought so.
The ROV’s looking for flight MH370 are not operating below 4500m let alone finding anything!