Brunswick County, North Carolina, is one of four locations being considered for a proposed critical minerals processing facility, which would be the first of its kind in the United States. The facility, known as Project Infinity, would refine polymetallic nodules pulled from the deep seafloor into metals used in manufacturing, defense, and energy technology.
Project Details
Glomar Minerals, an American seabed minerals company, and Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited, an Australian firm, announced on June 15 that they had selected Brunswick County, along with two sites in the New Orleans region and one on the Texas Gulf Coast, as contenders for the project. The proposed facility would process 200,000 tons of nodules annually using a closed-loop refining system, which the companies claim discharges no process water to surrounding waterways.
Glomar Minerals defines polymetallic nodules as metal-rich formations found on the deep seafloor, containing manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper, which are used in batteries, electronics, aerospace, and defense systems. The company has not specified where nodules would be sourced from if a US facility is built, but it holds exploration leases in the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone, previously held in part by Lockheed Martin.
Federal Push for Domestic Seabed Mineral Development
The announcement aligns with a federal push to expand domestic seabed mineral development. President Trump signed an executive order in April 2025 directing federal agencies to accelerate permitting for seabed mineral exploration and processing, citing national security concerns and the need to reduce US dependence on foreign-controlled mineral supplies.
However, deep-sea mining remains controversial among environmental scientists, conservationists, and some nations, who argue it poses serious, potentially irreversible risks to ocean ecosystems. Some proponents counter that it is a necessary source of the critical minerals needed to power green energy technologies.
The four contending sites were chosen from a review of more than 30 locations nationwide, with selection criteria including transportation access, infrastructure, workforce availability, and proximity to export markets. Glomar and Cobalt Blue will now begin a due diligence selection process with state and local partners in all three states.
A specific proposed site within Brunswick County has not been announced, but the companies will engage with local communities and officials throughout the evaluation process before a final decision is made. According to Dr. Andrew Tong, CEO and Managing Director of Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited, establishing domestic processing capabilities will build a more secure and resilient supply chain that supports American workers, manufacturers, and consumers.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
