The demand for nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese, materials crucial for producing advanced technologies in defense, energy, and infrastructure, has skyrocketed. Projections from the World Bank indicate that demand for these metals will increase by 500% by 2050, raising concerns about their availability and sustainability on a global scale. Without deep-sea minerals, 388 new mines must be built by 2030 to provide the necessary minerals to meet this demand.
