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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(82)26
Vol.1982/0012

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(82)26final
Brussels ,*»thFebruary 1982
Needforacommonposition for"theThirdUnitedNations Conference
ontheLawoftheSea,
withparticular reference toexploitation ofthesea-bed
(Commission Communication totheCouncil)
V­
A-f*. V-'-lui
vV
.
CCM(82)26final

1.Introduetion
1.1.TheEuropean Community'shighdegreeofdependence (around75^)for
thesupplyofmineralnon-energy rawmaterials toitsindustryisa
realandseriousproblem (l).
Since,bytheforceofcircumstances ,theCommunity willnotbeself-
sufficient evenafterenlargement ,itisessential tosecureaccess
toexternal sourcesofsupplyandbecauseoftheconcentration of
certainsensitive mineralresources inafewcountries ,itisneces­
sarytodiversify thosesources.
Theexploitation ofthesea–bedisapotential sourceofsupplyfor
theCommunity (2)(seeAnnexI).Uptonow,research anddevelopment
hasbeenmainlyconcerned withtheexploration andexploitation of
thedeposits ofpolymetallic nodules ;however ,therecentdiscovery
ininternational watersinthePacificofconsiderable deposits of
sulphides ofmetalssuchaszinc,copper,iron,lead,silver,etc.
neartovolcanicfaultsatadepthof2$00m,showsthatother
resources stillremaintobediscovered onthefloorofthesea-bed
andsubsequently underneath (3):thebedrockbeneaththedeepocean
basinscontains largeconcentrations ofmetalssuchasnickel,copDer,
(1)TheCommission firstanalyzedthisquestioninitsCommunication to
theCouncilentitled "theCommunity'ssupplies ofrav;materials "
(COM(75)50of5February 1975)i"thematterhasalsobeendiscussed
atnumerous meetings ofvariousEuropean Parliament committees on
thebasisofdocuments drawnupbyMrsL.MOREAU.
(2)EuropeanParliament Resolution of9April1981oneconomicaspects
oftheexploitation ofthesea-bed.
(3)Ifl"thefieldofbiological resources ,reference shouldbemadetothe
International Convention ontheConservation ofAntarctic MarineLiving
Resources (drawnupbyfourteennations),whichhasbeenopenfor
signingsince11September 1930.

molybdenum ,cobalt,zinc,lead,mercury ,chromium ,platinum ,gold
andsilver,aswellasasmallfraction (intheregionof2fo)ofthe
totalsubseapetroleum potential (l).
Theminingofpolymetallic noduleswillgenerate production ofnickel
andcopperandofconsiderable quantities oftwosensitive rawmater­
ials–manganese andcobalt;thiswillrequire newtechnology specific
tothistypeofmining,whichisbeingdeveloped withthefinancial
andtechnical participation ofEuropean industry .
Theexploitation ofthesea-bedisworthwhile primarily intheocean
areaslyingbeyondthelimitsofnationaljurisdiction (thezonethat
hasbeendeclaredthe"commonheritageofmankind")andshouldin
principle andaboveallforthepurposes ofsitedelimitation ,be
governed byinternational ruleswhicharecurrently beingdrafted
undertheThirdUnitedNations Conference ontheLawoftheSea
(inparticular inpartXIofthedraftConvention (2)).Itmustbe
borneinmindthattheConvention willbindmaiygenerations andwill
applytoknownandasyetunknown rawmaterials .
ThepresentdraftConvention ontheLawoftheSeadoesnotguarantee
futuresea-bedoperators accesstotheInternational Areaundercond­
itionslikelytoencourage themtodeveloptheAreaanditsresources
inanorderlyandsafefahion.
1.2.TheCommission considers thatthedevelopment ofmarinemineral
resources mustbeinthemutualinterest oftheindustrialized and
developing countries .ThedraftConvention ontheLawoftheSea
doesnotgofairenoughtowardsmeetingthatobjective .
(1)G.J.S.GOVETT–WorldMineralSupplies Assessment andPerspective –
Developments ineconomic geology,3,Elsevier 1976,pp.227and237)*
(2)TheDraftConvention departsfromtheprinciple enunciated byGrotius
in1609,namelythattheexploitation oftheseasisfree,sincethe
coastalStateswillbeauthorized toexercise controloverlivingand
mineral resources bothinthe200-mile exclusive economic zoneand
beyond200milesonthecontinental shelf,andalsosinceexploitation
oftheseabedshouldbesubjecttoabodyofrules.

Norwouldaninternational regimethatdiscouraged ratherthanencour­
agedtheexploitation ofthesea-bed "beintheinterest ofthedevel­
opingcountries whichdonothaveappreciable rawmaterial ressources
theyshouldbeabletobenefitfinancially fromtheoperation while
ensuringthattheythemselves haveaccesstotherawmaterials in
question underreasonable economicconditions fortheirowndevelop­
mentrequirements .
Theinternational regimemusttherefore makeaneffective contribu­
tiontothedevelopment ofthedeveloping countries whethertheybe
mineral consumers orproducers ,coastalorlandlocked states:
(i)Theirindustrialization oftheconsumerdeveloping countries
mustnotbesloweddownbyanartificial reduction inthe
worldsupplyofcertainminerals .ThatiswhytheCommission
isnotinfavourofthequantitative limitation ofmarine
production andonlyaccepts onanexceptional basisandina
spiritofcompromise ,thelimitation introduced fornickel.
Likewise ,itwouldwarnagainsttheindirect limitation that
couldresultfromexcessive taxation ofmarineproduction or
fromanexcessively cumbersome andinterventionist adminis­
trativestructure .
(ii)Thedeveloping countryproducers ofcopper,cobaltand
manganese mustbeprotected againsttheunfaireffectswhich
marineproduction couldhaveontheirdevelopment possibil­
ities:theaidforeconomic adjustment provided forin
Article151§4ofthedraftConvention shouldbefunded^from
theproceedsofnoduleproduction. /"mainly\
(iii)Thelandlocked orpoorestdeveloping countries ,whichwould
beprevented bytheirgeographical oreconomic situation
.fromtakingpartdirectlyinthedevelopment ofthesea-bed ,
shouldmainlybenefit fromtheseproceeds :iftheywere
assuredofthiscontribution towardsthefinancing ofthe
projects necessary fortheirdevelopment ,"thesecountries
wouldnotbe"thepoorrelations "oftheLawoftheSea.
Thiswouldbethecaseiftheexploitation ofthesea-bed
werehindered ordelayedfornon–economic reasons.

-4-
1,3.IftheCommunity'sexternal economic policy,notablyvis–a–visthe
developing countries ,istobeconsistent ,theCommunity mustadopt
aclearposition ontheneedtoarriveatanagreement embodying the
guidelines setoutabove;therearetwomainreasonsforthis:
(i)theabsenceofsuchanagreement wouldbeseenasasignofafew
industrialized countries desiretograbthiswealthdespiteits
havingbeendeclared the"commonheritage ofmankind";
(ii)farfrommerelybeingconcerned toimproveitsownsupplies,the
Community ispromoting miningprojects asamotiveforcefor
economic development inthedeveloping countries .Ataregional
andland-based level,thesecondLomeConvention introduced a
miningcooperation policyframedwithaviewtomutualadvantage .
Itisthatview whichmustbeconfirmed inanexercise thatinvolves
allthedeveloping countries andnon–land-based mineralresources .
Whilefavouring theadoption ofaninternational treaty,theCommunity
mustalsosecuresomeimprovement inanumberofclausesinpartXIof
theConvention thatareliabletodiscourage futuremarineoperators
eitherasaresultofrestrictive declarations ofprinciple orbyimpo­
singexcessive technical andfinancial constraints .
2.Conditions governing theimplementation ofsear-bedexploitation
2.1.Thegeneralobjectives oftheThirdUnitedNationsConference onthe
LawoftheSeawithregardtotheexploitation ofthedeepsear-bed
werelaiddownintheDeclaration ofPrinciples Governing theSear-Bed
andtheOceanFloorandtheSubsoilthereof(l).
Paragraph 9ofthatDeclaration stipulates thattheinternational
regimetobeestablished "willprovidefortheorderlyandsafedeve­
lopmentandrational management oftheAreaanditsresources andfor
expanding opportunities intheusethereof,andensuretheequitable
sharingbyStatesinthebenefits derivedtherefrom ,takinginto
particular consideration theinterests andneedsofthedeveloping
countries ,whetherland–lockedorcoastals".
(l)Resolution 2749(XXV)adoptedunanimously (including bytheUnitedStates)
bytheGeneralAssembly on17December 1970

2.2.Production limitation clause
Since1973certainland-based producers have "beenconcerned aboutthe
effectofsea-bedexploitation ontheireconomies ;theyfearthatthe
increased supplybroughtaboutbythemarketing ofthemetalsextracted
fromthenoduleswillcauseasubstantial dropinprices ,,
Thatiswhytheproducers inquestion ,broughttogether byCanada,have
succeeded inhavingaproduction limitation clauseinserted inthe
draftConvention ;theclausestipulates thatallorpartofthegrowth
innickelconsumption calculated fromareference datelinkedtothe
commencement ofinitialcommercial production couldbecoveredbythe
marineproducers (l).
2o3®Theproduction limitation clauseraisesdifficulties ofprinciple .
Itseekstoprotectthedeveloping countries whoseeconomies are
heavilydependent onmineralproduction againstunfairadverseeffects
causedbythecompetition fromtheexploitation ofthesea-bed.
TheCommunity hasalwaysbeenawareoftheimportance foranumberof
developing countries ofexportsoftheircommodities ,bothmineral and
agricultural ;frequently ,thoseexportsearnthebulkoftheforeign
currency theyneedfortheirdevelopment .Asaresult,globalCommunity
policyoncommodities shouldbebasedonabodyofobjectives and
instruments ,notablystabilization ofcommodity pricesanddevelopment
ofthedeveloping countries *naturalresources inthelightofthe
growinginterdependence oftheeconomies oftheindustrialized and
developing countries .
Itisimportant thattheexploitation of"thesea–bedshouldnotoperate
tothedetriment ofland–basedworkings inthedeveloping countries ;
ifthatwerenotthecase,itwouldbenecessary toimplement the
measuresprovidedforinArticle151(4)ofthedraftConvention .
(l)Tlieproduction limitation clausecalculated onthebasisofnickelwill
protecttheland–basedproducers ofthatmetalbutnottheproducers of
cobaltormanganese (seeTableI).

-6-
Inanyevent ,thefuture marine operators should beinduced ,toput
their products onthemarket gradually inline with thegrowth of
demand (particularly inthecase ofcobalt andmanganese )toprevent
prices collapsing .
2a4«Itshould also beremembered that theproduction limitation clause ,
restrictive asitmaybeasregards thenumber ofdifferent operators having
access totheinternational Area ,will nevertheless make itpossible
tobring into operation some five exploitation sites in1990 ,if
that istheyear when commercial exploitation first getunder way
assuming 3"/<>annual growth ofnickel consumption from 1979 »10sites
in2000 and 19sites in2010 .
Itwould appear that some five orsix sites would beneeded tocover
themain industrialized countries ,present demand for cobalt and
manganese ,which they consider tobesensitive metals (seeTable l)„
2o5 <>The Commission hopes that European industry will beable toplay an
active role inthe exploitation ofthe sea-bed .
Uptonow ,theconsortia interested inexploitation have largely been
formed around UScompanies andonly one consortium includes two
European companies from different countries .When thedevelopment
programmes currently inprogress areconcluded ,anassessment will
have tobemade ofwhether itisworthwhile andpossible touse
Community instruments toencourage European firms tocome together .
3.Position ofthe Community atthe Conference onthe Law ofthe Sea
3.1 .Because oftheuncertainty astothe dat«ofimplementation ofthe
decision-making process envisaged bythedraft UNConvention ,
themanagers ofcompanies have turned to .their respective
governments toobtain certain guarantees via the enactment ofprovi­
sional national legislation governing the exploration andexploitation
ofsea-bed mineral resources .
3.2 .However ,amajority ofCommunity companies continue tofavour inthe
present circumstances the conclusion ofaninternational Convention
under the aegis oftheUnited Nations but oncondition that certain
improvements axeincorporated inthedraft Convention given the
considerable industrial risks involved ,toavoid binding dirigistic

-7-
rulesand"theestablishment ofacumbersome andexpensive bureaucracy
retaining awidemarginofdiscretion .
Itisimportant thatimprovements aremadeinthedraftConvention in
ordertogivecertainassurances tothosewhosetaskitwillbeto
getcommercial exploitation ofthesea-bedstarted .
Forthetimebeing,thelegaluncertainty resulting fromtheLawof
theSeaConference negotiations anddenressed metalpriceshaveled
certainconsortia toslowdowntheirresearch anddevelopment work
considerably .
3.3oApartfrompositions onfisheries ,pollution andanumberoftrade
issues,theCommunity hasrarelybeenabletomakeitsweightfeltby
puttingforward commonpositions .
Thishassometime ledtheGroupof77"tonegotiate solelywiththe
UnitedStatesandtheUSSRtoresolvecertainparticularly difficult
questions inaselectgroup(forexample,themethodbywhichthe
CounciloftheAuthority willtakedecisions).
Whenthetimecomes,theCommunity shoulddefend,constructively and
dynamically ,acommonposition aimedatbringing together thevarious
positions whichwouldallowtheConference tobecontinued and
concluded .
Accordingly ,thecommonposition shouldbeestablished onthebasis
oftheguidelines setoutinsection 3»4obelow.
3.4»TheCommunity couldproposethefollowing guidelines :
–reaffirm acceptance ofthecreation ofaninternational regime
governing theAreaanditsresources ,asprovided forinResolution
2749(XXV)oftheGeneralAssembly ;
–declarethatthedevelopment ofmarinemineralresources mustbe
inthemutualinterest oftheindustrialized anddeveloping countries :
tothatend,ailinternational regimeisnecessary .Theregimemust,
ononehand,permittheprogressive butrealentryintoproduction
ofthesea–bed,andontheotherhand,guarantee aneffective
contribution forthedevelopment ofdeveloping countries ,whether
theybemineralconsumers orproducers ,coastalorland-locked
StatesiTheCommunity wouldstressinparticular theneedtoprovide

foreffective aidforthosedeveloping countries whosedevelopment
mightbeaffected bytheexploitation ofthesea–bedandforthe
land–lockedorpoorestdeveloping countries whichwouldbeprevented
bytheirgeographical oreconomic situation fromparticipating
directely intheexploitation ofthesea-bed ^
–declarethattheInternational Sea–BedAuthority shouldbeorganized
onafunctional andprogressive basis,inproportion tothenumber
ofsitesinoperation ;theAuthority shouldconcentrate itsactivi­
tiesontheapplication ofoperating rulesfortheexploitation of
thesea-bed (including therulesfortheprotection ofthemarine
environment providedforinArticle145ofthedraftConvention )
andonthearrangements fortheequitable redistribution amongthe
developing countries oftheprofitsresulting fromthatexploitation .
Theoperating costsoftheAuthority mustbemuchlowerthanthe
initial UNestimates (Doc®A/CONF062/L65of18February 1981);
-proposeinordertomeettheobjectives ofArticle 9ofDeclaration
2749(XXV)theamendment ofanumberofclausesinpartXIofthe
draftConvention ,thesebeingclausesthattendtodiscourage future
marineoperators eitherbyrestrictive declarations ofprinciple or
byimposing onthemtechnical andfinancial constraints thatare
unreasonable compared withtheconditions imposedforsimilarland
investment operations (l):
a)Ressources ^golicy
Formanyyearsnow,Community undertakings havebeenplaying an
important roleintheworkbeingdonetoachieveabetterunder­
standing ofthepotential oftheinternational Areabut,atthe
sametime,alsoofthedifficulties inherent inthisnewtype
ofoperation .Itisimportant thatthiseffortbecontinued and
thattheaboveundertakings shouldtherefore beguaranteed access
totheresources ofthesea–bedonanon-discriminatory basis
andundereconomic conditions .
(l)Theamendments referredtoherecannotaffecttheprovisions relating
totherisksandecological effortsofexploitation onthenatural
resources ofthearea.

-9-
Certainprinciples relating toactivities intheArea,defined ,
bythedraftConvention ,shouldbeamendedtogiveallproduction
sources anequalchanceinordernottogiveexcessive protection
totheland-based producers .
Thesea-bedproduction limitation formulainthedraftConvention
(described onpage5)raisesdifficulties ofprinciple ;itseems
acceptable onlyasaprotection forthedeveloping countries
whoseeconomies areheavilydependent onmineralproduction ,
againstunfairadverseeffectscausedbythecompetition from
theexploitation ofthesea–bed.(l)
Atthesametime,sea–bedoperators mustbegivenaguarantee
thatthelevelofproduction allocated tothemcanbemaintained
throughout theperiodofthecontract .
b)Transferoftechnolo
InthepresentdraftConvention ,theterm"technology "hasnot
beenmadesufficiently clear;itwillbenecessary togivean
improved definition soastoclearly mapouttheobligations of
theoperators .
TheMemberStatesandtheCommunity proposed clausesatthe
Conference in1978forthetransfer oftechnology underfairand
reasonable commercial conditions withtheobjective ofenabling
theEnterprise toestablish itselfonastablefinancial and
technical basis.Thatexceptional proposal caninnoway
constitute aprecedent forothernegotiations inprogress on
thesamesubject.
Ontheotherhand,iti§difficult toaccepttheprovisions
envisaged inthedraftConvention withregardto:
–thetransfer oftechnology supplied byathirdparty,since
theprovisions inquestion wouldimplyhighadditional costs
forthecontracting partyasaresultofdisputes anddelays;
(l)Theproduction limitation formulacombinesaproduction ceiling
protecting theland–basedproducers andaproduction floorallocated
sometimesentirelytothesea-bedproducers . s

-10-
–theobligatory transfer oftechnology tothedeveloping
countries ,whichgoes "beyond ,thebasicprinciple .These
countries canobtainthenecessary technology throughjoint
ventures eitherwiththeEnterprise orwithoperators spons­
oredbyaState.Itistherefore adesirable development that
specific provisions shouldbeenvisaged inthedraftConvention
topermittheestablishment ofjointventures betweendevelop­
inganddeveloped countries onreservessites,whichwould
encourage notonlythetransfer oftechnology tothedeveloping
countries butalsotheirinvolvement intheexploitation ofthe
sea-bed fromtheoutset.Asystemoffinancial incentives
similartothatenvisaged fortheestablishment ofjointvent­
uresbetweenacontracting partyandtheEnterprise couldbe
lookedinto(forexamplebyreducingthefinancial charges
imposedontheoperators).
c)Financial claus_e_sof–the^contracts ^
Itistobefearedthatthefinancial chargesenvisaged inthe
draftConvention willdiscourage privateinvestors (l);ithas
beenconfirmed thatthosechargesaremuch,higherthanthose
envisaged bydeveloping countries interested intheinstallation
ofminingoperations ontheirterritory .
Itisnecessary toreducethelevyratesandimposehighcharges
onlywhenprofitability conditions aremorefavourable .
Itseemsnecessary thataftertheinitialphase,theoperating
costsoftheAuthority ,theadditional investment oftheEnter­
priseaswellasitsoperating costsshouldnotbecoveredby
leviesontheoperators ,giventhatthedesired aimistooptimize
thedisposable incomeforthedeveloping countries (inparticular
theland–lockedandtheproducercountries).
(l)Thenecessary investment fortheexploitation ofoneminingsite,
producing 3milliontonnesofdrynodulesperyear,willbeofthe
orderof1-1.5billiondollars.

-11
d)Voting_j)ro£edure£ in_the_Council_
Theformulas provided forinthedraftConvention seemto
represent areasonable solution toahighlycomplexproblem .
Theconditions governing theoperation oftheLegalandTechnical
Commission (whichhastoapprovetheworkplansoffutureoper­
ators)stillhavetobespecified insuchawayastoguarantee
thefairness andabsolute impartiality ofthesaidCommission
initswork.Atimelimitshouldbeplacedonitsevaluation .
Inaddition ,axiarbitration procedure shouldbeworkedoutto
enableafutureoperator todefendhiscaseifnodecision or
anegative decisionistakenbytheCommission ,,
e)ReviewConférence
ItseemsstrangethattheReviewConference provided forin
Article 155ofthedraftConvention shouldbeabletoamend
thistextonthebasisofatwo–thirdsmajority whenconsensus
istheprinciple currently appliedforthenegotiations in
progress .
Inanyevent,theReviewConference shouldnotbeabletocall
intoquestion thepossibilites offeredbythisConvention of
accessforstatesandtheirnationals totheexploitation of
thesea–bed.
4.Conclusions
Thenext(andwhatoughttobethefinal)sessionoftheThirdUnited
Nations Conference ontheLawoftheSeawillbeheldinNewYork
from8Marchto30April.
Itisimportant thatwhenrenegotiations beginatthatsessionofpartXI
ofthedraftConvention theCommunity shouldbeinaposition todefend
itsinterests byplaying anactiverole,whileensuringthatthecondi­
tionsarefulfilled forafairredistribution tothedeveloping countries
ofprofitsderivedfromexploitation ofthesea–bed..

12-
Consequently ,theCouncilisrequested :
–toadoptacommonposition onthebasisoftheguidelines setout
insection 3»4«ofthispaper®
Annexes ;Annex1sTheCommunity '3interest inexploitation ofthe
sea-bed
TableIsDataonthefourmetalsobtained fromthe
polymetallic nodules

I.loTheexploitation OJ.tnesea–bedisjustified bythepresence onthe
oceanfloorofmanganese nodules (polymetallic noddles)afewcentime­
tersindiameter ;thesewill "berecovered "bycollectors workingat
depthsofuptomorethan5000n»°Thenodulesarerichinmanganese
(contentaround29/<>),nickel(lo3$),copper(1,2%)andcobalt(0.24%)
(seetablel)o
Acomparison withtheland–basedreserves estimated bytheUS-Bureau
ofMinescoveringthesamemetalsdemonstrates thepotential importance
ofthesenodules «
1 %'l)Reserves containedLana–casedreserves –r–-7-––:––=ft-––––– mtnenodules '
(inmillions oftonnesofmetal)
Cobalt 1.5 60
Copper 498 240
Manganese 5440(grossweight)6000
Nickel 54 290
Tnemamdeposits ofnodules knownatpresentarelocatedinthe
Pacific .
102„Although thepresence ofmanganese nodules ontheoceanbedhasbeen
knownofforoveracentury,itwasnotuntili960orthereabouts
thatmoredetailed studiesbegantob8madeofthedeposits and
processing technology ,,Asfrom1974variousinternational consortia
wereestablished bringing together firmsfromthe.UnitedStates,
Japan,Canada,theUnitedKingdom ,Belgium,theNetherlands ,Germany
andItaly.FranceandJapanhavealsoundertaken independent national
l)UnitedNations–Department ofInternational Economic andSocial
Affairs –Sea–bedmineralresource development :recentactivities
ofinternational consortia –document S?/ESA/107–NewYorkI98O

3 huvat-xkeu <uii/itv<=>tti-iiinthemiaiagofnoduleaomoe
theyconstitute a,rich ,orecomprising anumberofcommercially inte­
restingmetals,including twosensitive rawmaterials :
–manganese ,land-based deposits ofwhich ,arefoundinonlyalimited
numberofcountries (mainlytheUSSRandSouthAfrica,butalso
CibonandBrasil). •
-cobalt,tnetwomainproducers ofwhichareZaireandZambia.
Then;iningofthepolyruetallic nodulesisofpotential interest not
onlytotheinctusviri&liz 3dcountries butalsotomanydeveloping
countries whichhavetoimportmanyrawmaterials inordertoensure
thr-irin^jafcrializ.a'&ion a.2idforwhichasupplyofrawmaterials atan
interesting pricoiscrucial.

Ifeitaonthefourmetalsobtained fromthepolymetallic nodulesTABLEI
Cobalt(Co) Copper(Cu) Manganese (Mn) Nickel(Ni)
land-based productionI98O
fliest:26100tof
metalofwhichî
19500t
inAfricaMineproduction of
oresin'OOOtofCu
content
West 6136
Eastern-bloc
countries 1818
Woridprod.7954I978
Mineproduction of
oresin'000tofMn
content
Worldprod.8729I979
Mineproduction of
oresin'000ofNi
content
West 487
Eastern-bloc
countries 209
Worldprod.696
Consumpt!on I98O
3verallestimate of
some20000tfor
;heWestin'000tofCu
content
West 7591
Eastern-bloc
countries 2291
Worldconsumpt .9882I977
Oreequivalent in
'000tofMncontent
ESC(Nine)approx.
1540
USA 1381I979
in'000tofNicontent
West 595
Eastern-bloc
countries 188
Worldconsumpt .783
Community dependence )res '100$
fletal-approx.95$Ores 93·5$
Metal 63$Ores 100$ Ores100$(NewCaledonia
outside EEC)
Metal88$
x)Content ofthenodules 0.24$ 1.2$ 29/0 1.3$
Percentage ,ofthemetals
recovered*'' fromthe
nodules 90$ 95$ 85$ 95$
Production .ofmetal
extracted x'fromthe
nodulesproduced bya
siteyielding 3milliont
ofdrynodulesperannum5900t 31000t 670000t 33500t
Numberofsitesthatwould
coverthetotalconsumpt .of
-theCommunity
L-theUnitedStatesapprox.3
approx.1.5approx.76
approx.72approx.2.3
approx.2.0approx.5.5
approx.5.5
x)Figuressupplies byaninternational consortium