In a small area north of the Azores(Portugal), the deep sea cobalt ore is enough to supply 25% of the global needs of the metal. A small treasure that can represent 217 million per year for the Portuguese economy.
It is an area of 1600 square kilometers, and in addition to cobalt, there is nickel and copper there. To put this size in perspective: Portugal seek to have a platform of 4 million square kilometers - more than twice the combined area of the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy.
The business case of cobalt, is given by Manuel Pinto de Abreu, responsible for the Portuguese mission that is charge of the expansion of the continental shelf of the country, and serves to illustrate the importance of the last war on Earth: the sovereignty of the sea. "Brazil is concerned because there are German and Russian ships on the border of the Brazilian continental shelf in search of oil," reported Manuel Abreu. In the area where Portugal is looking to extend its platform, there is also a chance to find oil. "So we hope," he says.
In this area, Portugal does not seem to play. "Our team is in the top 5 of the best equipped in the world." The case is not for less: "At stake is a new map of sovereignty, which will completely change the geopolitical world," he says. Joining the sovereignty of the Portuguese-speaking nations, the influence of this group of countries can have a boost.
The Portuguese team that is preparing this submission will be, on April 13, presenting its point of view to the UN. The request can take 3 to 5 years to become official. Portugal has a platform of 1.85 million square kilometers, and wants to extend it further 2.15 million.
Adapted from an article IONLINE.
1 comments:
Interesting...not that 217million/year is a fortune but it could create a whole new industry, expertise and jobs that we dont have at the moment!
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