Cluster Insight with ADEPTH Minerals

– We are on a super exciting journey, taking part in developing a new company and a new industry in Norway, with the main goal of creating value through environmentally sustainable exploration and production of deep-sea minerals, says CEO, Anette Broch Mathisen Tvedt.

Cluster Insight is a column where we ask six questions to catch a glimpse into the daily business-lives of the partners and members of GCE Ocean Technology.

This week we have spoken to Anette Broch Mathisen Tvedt to learn more about her and her work as CEO in ADEPTH Minerals: a company aiming for sustainable exploration and extraction of deep-sea minerals powering the transition to a low carbon future.

1. What is your role in ADEPTH Minerals?

One and a half years ago I was asked by one of the co-founders of Adepth Minerals whether I wanted to change turf of exploration. I was then exploring for oil and gas, whereas he asked if I wanted to join to explore for minerals instead. Suddenly I was part of starting up a new mineral exploration and production company, now with a role as CEO.

Now we are on a super exciting journey, taking part in developing a new company and a new industry in Norway, with the main goal of creating value through environmentally sustainable exploration and production of deep-sea minerals.

2. Your primary focus at work right now is?

Currently we are working towards the opening the Norwegian shelf for deep sea mineral exploration, for that we need data and some new technology. So now the focus is to move ahead on several projects with one related to coring technology development, one related to a digital platform we aim to build and one project where we will test different exploration technologies and environmental monitoring systems on a research expedition.

3. Biggest challenges and opportunities for ADEPTH Minerals in the future?

With the Norwegian continental shelf possibly opening for deep-sea mineral exploration in 2023, we are taking the opportunity to be part of what will be a new high potential industry for Norway. We need to work towards the opening and ensure we can deliver on our targets of sustainable use of ocean resources.

We therefore now need to collaborate on gathering enough data and knowledge so that we can take a sound decision on where and how it is best to extract the minerals the world desperately needs for the green energy transition.

We need all hands-on deck for the green transition, and we need to ensure a close collaboration between all stakeholders; academia, industry, NGOs, and governmental bodies to ensure we collect the right data, and that we base the decision on opening the Norwegian shelf on the best available information.

This collaboration will enable us to continue to develop technology and how we explore, with a strong focus on minimizing our environmental footprint and reducing or eliminating emissions.

4. Best part of being member in a cluster?

The best part of being a member of the cluster is that this is a platform for easier collaboration across the industry and it gives us the opportunity to meet new people.

For our industry we especially need to coordinate our knowledge acquisition around environmental mapping and technology development adapted to this new purpose; exploration and extraction of deep-sea minerals.

Competence transfer in a new industry is important for further development and success, and a clear arena for collaboration and knowledge transfer is an important contributor from this cluster.

5. Your business or life motto

“If we do not try, we will not succeed.” I strongly believe in aiming high, and trying to reach for the stars, we may not get exactly there, but we will reach higher than if we set our aims more comfortably.

A more personal life motto I try to live after is: “The glass can always be full, you just have to ensure topping it up.”

6. Which cluster member should we interview next?

I have had a great opportunity to meet uSEA several times, they are creating an unmanned system for underwater data acquisition, and they are on a really exciting journey which I look forward to seeing the results from.

Thank you for the insight Anette
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