By Cobalt is crucial for the green economy.
Sri Lanka’s Continental Shelf Claim
In 2009, Sri Lanka asked the UN to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. This claim is still under review. If approved, it would include the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries. The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) handles these claims. Other countries like Pakistan, Australia, and Norway have successfully extended their maritime territories this way.
Initially, India did not object to Sri Lanka’s claim in 2010. However, in 2022, India opposed it, saying it would negatively impact its interests.
What is Cobalt ?
Cobalt is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is a hard, shiny, silver-gray metal that is found naturally in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals. Here are some key points about cobalt:
Cobalt is a hard, ferromagnetic metal with high melting and boiling points. It is similar to iron and nickel in its properties.
Chemical Properties: Cobalt is stable in air and does not react with water. It slowly reacts with acids.
Riches of the deep
The northern part of the Bay of Bengal, which has deep sediment deposits reaching down to 20km, is one of the largest such resources still untapped in the world and yet out of reach given today’s technology and costs.
Most offshore oil and gas deposits now being mined are at shallower depths, of less than four kilometres.
India and the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount
In January, India asked the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to explore the cobalt-rich Afanasy Nikitin Seamount in the central Indian Ocean. India paid $500,000 for a 15-year study plan. The ISA noted that the seamount is within an area claimed by another country as part of its continental shelf.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry objected to India’s exploration rights, urging the ISA to wait until the UNCLCS finalizes Sri Lanka’s claim.
Legal and Territorial Context
Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekara, a maritime law expert, explained that under UNCLOS Annex II, countries can extend their continental shelf claims if they have special geological features. Sri Lanka’s claim, made in 2009, includes such features. India, however, argued this claim violates international law. The UN has asked Sri Lanka for clarification, but Sri Lanka has not yet responded.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf
The EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a country’s coast, allowing sovereign rights over resources. The continental shelf also extends 200 nautical miles but includes subsoil and seabed. Countries can extend this if their shelf includes certain geological features.
Current Status
The UN’s decision on Sri Lanka’s extended continental shelf claim is pending. Meanwhile, India applied to the ISA to explore the seamount, which lies within the area Sri Lanka claims. The ISA has not made a decision yet, and Sri Lanka’s objection has halted progress.
Importance of Cobalt
Global demand for cobalt, essential for electric vehicles, is set to quadruple by 2030. Patali Champika Ranawaka, URF Leader, emphasized the importance of cobalt and noted that Sri Lanka needs to first confirm its territorial rights before exploring resources.
In summary, while India and Sri Lanka await the UN’s decision, tensions remain over the rights to explore the resource-rich Afanasy Nikitin Seamount.
