In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, Impossible Metals CEO & Co-Founder Oliver Gunasekara joins host Tom Raftery to explore a question at the heart of the energy transition: where will the critical minerals needed to decarbonise the global economy actually come from?
The conversation examines the growing constraints of land-based mining, including declining ore grades, tightening supply chains, and increasing geopolitical dependence. Oliver explains how deep-sea polymetallic nodules—formed over millions of years on the ocean floor—contain high concentrations of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese, and how autonomous underwater robots can selectively collect these nodules while avoiding visible marine life.
The episode also looks at the broader implications for supply chain resilience, battery affordability, and critical mineral independence, as well as the policy and geopolitical dynamics shaping the sector. Along the way, listeners learn why most global mining still supports fossil fuel systems, how nodules differ from terrestrial deposits, and why decisions made in the next decade could shape the future of clean energy.
A thoughtful discussion on climate integrity, innovation, risk, and the choices required to support a credible path to net zero.
