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US Finalises Historic Deep-Sea Mining Auction Off American Samoa
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CNBC TV18•20-10-2026, 07:47
US Finalises Historic Deep-Sea Mining Auction Off American Samoa
- •The Trump administration announced a historic deep-sea mining auction covering approximately 31 million acres off the coast of American Samoa, scheduled for November 19.
- •Officials from the Marine Minerals Administration defended the move as essential for securing critical minerals, national defense, and domestic supply chains.
- •The lease sales follow an April 2025 executive order emphasizing deep-sea technology as a core national security interest and a request by US firm Impossible Metals.
- •Environmental groups and local leaders, including American Samoa Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula, have expressed strong opposition due to fears of irreversible marine damage.
- •The auction area borders the Rose Atoll marine sanctuary, which provides a vital habitat for endangered species such as the hawksbill turtle.
Key Questions Answered
The bidding for the deep-sea mining lease sales off American Samoa is scheduled for November 19, 2026, following the Trump administration's finalized auction announcement.
The lease sales cover approximately 31 million acres spanning across two distinct areas off the US Pacific archipelago.
In a public comment submitted in September 2026, American Samoa Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula stated that he does not support commercial deep-sea mineral extraction at this time, while acknowledging that the final decision rests with the US government.
