Because deep sea mining involves such incredible technology, capable of operating in one of the universe’s most demanding environments, some assume that it will be economically risky. And it is true that all first-of-their-kind projects employ more risks than established industries. However, the rising demand for critical minerals and the surprisingly low costs of deep sea mining—particularly with Impossible Metals’ innovations—make it a potentially significant new industry.
The demand for critical metals is enormous and growing. In 2025, the total market for nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese is approximately $450 billion per year, and is projected to reach $650 billion by 2030.
The cost to mine and process nickel using Impossible Metals technology is expected to be approximately 10x less expensive than the average land-based mine in 2024. For more details on why costs are so low, please see this blog post: Why Will Deep Sea Mining Be Less Expensive Than Traditional Land-Based Mining?
In our latest concept economic model (v6), we demonstrate how ‘Project 1’ will collect 6.7 million metric tonnes of nodules per year, generating $4 billion in revenue and a net profit of $1 billion per year. This is while leaving undisturbed 30% of the nodules by mass (60% by quantity, selecting the largest nodules).
