Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP): Past, Present, and Future Role
Authors: Machesky L.F. 
Published: October 2008

Desiring to increase development of their mineral and energy resource potentials and knowledge of geology of marine areas, a group of East Asian countries established a committee to promote, co-ordinate, plan, and implement geologic work programmes, and related activities.

The work programmes and activities expanded to cover a wide range and scope which, in time, resulted in increasing the geologic knowledge of the oceans and adjoining parts of land areas; especially the mineral and energy resource endowments: consequently, the achievements attracted both regional and international interest and support.

Aiding the development potential of the members, CCOP evolved into a self sustaining organization which can represent its governments. It also has been emulated by a group of South Pacific countries and may serve as a model for other groups of countries with similar objectives and aspirations.

EXPERT WORKING GROUP MEETING

Organized by the secretariat of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE), known now as the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), an expert Working Group met at Bangkok in July 1965 to examine the scope and advantages of measures among regional countries in undertaking surveys for mineral resources in marine areas.

Feeling there was scope for such work, the Group proposed that countries should establish a co-ordinating committee. It further recommended: collection and dissemination of information on offshore prospecting operations; establishment of regional advisory services; encouragement of bilateral and international agreements for assistance; provision of survey vessels for offshore prospecting when circumstances warranted; stimulation of basic research on continental shelves; and compilation of regional geophysical data.

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES MEETING

Following up on the Expert Group's recommendations, representatives of the Governments of Burma, Ceylon, China (Taiwan), India, Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand held a meeting at Tokyo in November 1965.

The representatives: emphasized that large scale surveys would be more economical if neighbouring countries were to participate in co-ordinated investigations; recognized the difficulties, particularly for smaller countries, of having offshore prospecting performed at a reasonable cost; and suggested the establishment of a co-ordinating committee on prospecting for mineral resources in asian offshore areas, which might consist initially of regional countries having immediate programmes of offshore exploration.

CCOP FIRST SESSION

Coinciding with the United Nations Secretary-General's proposal for a worldwide, five year survey of non-agricultural resources, in which the survey of offshore mineral potential in developing areas would occupy an important place, the Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas (CCOP) first session was held in the Philippines during May/June 1966. Inaugurated by Carlos P. Romulo, the session was attended by government representatives of China (Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Philippines, and officials of the United Nations system.

After a careful review, the representatives proposed projects to explore particular types of minerals in specific nearshore areas and other projects of a reconnaissance nature to obtain more data on the further offshore potentialities, particularly as regards hydrocarbon prospects.