On 18 March 2026, the first part of the 31st session of the Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) approved the application submitted by the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) to extend its polymetallic nodule exploration contract in the international seabed area. The exploration contract will be extended to 21 May 2031.
COMRA signed its polymetallic nodule exploration contract with the ISA in 2001, covering a contract area of 75,000 km2 with a term of 15 years, extendable on application at expiry for five years at a time. Over that period, COMRA has performed well under the exploration contract signed with the ISA and fulfilled its related obligations, providing training to 24 people from developing countries. Considering that the ISA’s regulations on the exploitation of international seabed resources have not yet been adopted, COMRA, in accordance with the ISA’s exploration regulations and the relevant provisions on extending exploration contracts, previously submitted extension applications in 2016 and 2021, both of which were granted. This extension is the third.
In addition, the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Slovakia), Yuzhmorgeologiya (Russia), the Government of the Republic of Korea, Deep Ocean Resources Development Co., Ltd. (Japan) and the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, Ifremer (France) had their extension applications approved alongside COMRA.
