China is likely to become the first country in the world to start mining seabed minerals if the international rules for exploitation are approved next year.
The company has been shifting to underground mining from an open pit at its giant Grasberg mine in Indonesia and had previously warned that production would take a hit.
The most recent resource estimate is 38.4 million inferred tonnes grading 4.58% zinc and 1.85% lead, containing 3.9 billion lb. of zinc and 1.6 billion lb. of lead.
