Composed of manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt and other trace minerals, polymetallic nodules hold some of the key ingredients needed to fuel the energy transition.

TMC is sending a team back to NORI-D, the site of last year’s work, as it continues its environmental studies in preparation for commercial mining.

Panguna, formerly operated by Rio Tinto Group, shut in 1989 after local protests over mine revenue degenerated into a civil war.

Azure, which is developing the Andover lithium and nickel-copper-cobalt project in Western Australia, continues to attract investment.

It has secured rights over an additional 536sq.km in one of the largest and highest-grade lithium areas in North America.