Rare earth deep sea mining is emerging as a controversial solution to the world’s growing demand for critical minerals used in clean energy, electronics, and defense technologies.

From 2015, Lesley Stahl’s investigation into whether there is a danger posed by Chinese control of the rare earth element mining industry. From 2019, Bill Whitaker’s look at the lucrative world of deep-sea ocean floor mining. From 2024, Whitaker’s report on the consequences of the U.S. Senate’s logjam over ratifying the U.N.’s Law of the Sea. In 2018, Whittaker visited South Africa to see how scientists are searching for living organisms deep within the Earth.

Critical Minerals Are Essential — But at What Cost?

The demand for rare earth elements is skyrocketing, but deep-sea and ultra-deep mining come with significant environmental and geopolitical risks. The future of clean technology must be built on transparent and sustainable sourcing.

Klean Industries Provides Circular Mineral Recovery Solutions:

✅ Urban mining from end-of-life electronics and EV batteries
✅ Traceable and low-impact sourcing alternatives using KleanLoop™
✅ Integration of recovered materials into green manufacturing
✅ Circular economy systems that reduce reliance on extraction

Talk to Klean Industries to explore responsible strategies for critical minerals and help build resilient supply chains for the clean energy revolution » GO.