Brief  Introduction

　　China Ocean Mineral Resources R & D Association   (COMRA ) was established on April 4, 1991, and registered in UN as a Pioneer Investor of deepseabed exploitation on March 5, 1991.

　　COMRA is an organization of coordinating the activities of deepseabed exploration and exploitation of its memberunits. Its aim is to explore new mineral resources for our country, to  promote the exploitation of deepsea resources and the development of high and new technology industry, to safeguard the rights of our country to exploit the resources in the international seabed and to make contributions to the exploitation and utilization of the resources for the mankind.

　　The highest authority of COMRA is the Council and the executive body is the Secretariat.

The Certificate registering COMRA as a Pioneer Investor was signed by
Perez de Cuellar, the then Secretary-General of UN, on Aug 8,1991

　

International Seabed Resources

  • The nodules on the floor at 5000m depth of water.

  • Sample of cobalt-rich crust.

  • The Figure shows the black chimney on the sea floor with warm water activities.

  • Sample of gas hydrate.

  • An electromicroscope photo of deepsea pressure-friendly microorganisms.

　

Survey and Research

　On the basis of work carried out in the "7th Five Year" (1986-1990), COMRA had organized ten cruises of survey and research on ocean mineral resources in "8th Five Year" (1991-1995) and "9th Five Year" (1996-2000), in which the most advanced technology was used, such as multi-frequency, multi-beam, under water robot, deep tow system, sea-bottom photography . Rich fruits have been resulted in the study of distribution regulation, mineralization mechanism, mineralization dynamics of deep-sea resources and in the development of corresponding high-tech and detecting means, which helped our country gain an area of 75,000 km2 in the international seabed with exclusive right of resources exploitation. Work strategy has been changed from single resource to multi-resources in the "9th Five Year" .

　　At the same time a research project of Natural Variability of Baseline (NaVaBa) with emphasis on biological ecology has been raised and carried out, meanwhile the obligations laid upon the pioneer investor have been faithfully fulfilled. In 1996, our country, as one of the biggest investor, became a member state of the first Council of the International Seabed Authority.

　　All the work mentioned above is supported by the Open Lab. of Submarine Sciences.

"CR-01"6000m self-sustained submarine 
robot, which won Special Award of  Science
-Technology -Progress from the Chinese 
Academy of Science and Class A Award 
of Science-Technology- Progress from the 
central government.

6000m deep-towing survey system, which won
Class A Award of Science-Technology-
Progress from the Ministry of Education in1999
and Class B Award of Science- Technology -Progress from the central government

Automatic granularity analyzer

 Polymetallic nodules research

　

Research of Mining Technology and Equipment

30m hydro-hoisting
system

 　　During the "8th Five Year" (1991-1995) and "9th Five Year" (1996-2000) plan, technology and equipment of collecting and hoisting the deep-sea polymetallic nodules and the remote measuring and controlling system were studied and tested. Prototype of nodule collector has been developed which was simple in structure, reliable in operation, high in collecting rate and suitable to move on the sea floor which is covered with soft sediments. A number of ways of hoisting the nodules have also been studied. Remote measurement and control of the collector, real-time data collecting and processing of the hoisting system have realized. Comprehensive test of the whole system in depth of 150m will be fulfilled in the first half of 2001 year.

Multifunctional Deep Seabed Mining Lab.

Research of Processing Technology

　　During the "8th Five Year" (1991-1995) and "9th Five Year" (1996-2000) plan, comparative study on some technologies of the nodule dressing and smelting was carried out, and smelting-rusting-solvent extraction process and cuprion ammonia leaching process have been optimized. A series of problems in transforming the technology into production process have been solved, enlarged laboratory test of the whole process has been fulfilled and standard metal products were almost achieved. Comparatively, the technological process is simple, the recovery rate of useful metals is high and the influence on the environment is small. It is close to the international advanced level of the same kind of test.

Hydro-metallurgical test
of the nodule and the facilities

　

International Cooperation

　　COMRA has made great effort to promote international cooperation and enjoys good relations worldwide with relative countries and organizations. It also has fulfilled the obligation for the UN of training personel from developing countries.

COMRA delegation visiting IOM

A visit to Hawaii, US 

UN trainees receiving certificates 
from Mr. Chen Bingxin, 
the then President of COMRA

　

Prospect

Main Tasks During Tenth Five Year (2001-2005) Plan

Survey and evaluation of deepsea resources

　　To enclose an area of cobalt-rich crusts that can meet the requirement of the resources amount for potential commercial development; to achieve the goal of the special project of polymetallic nodule and fulfill the work defined in the resources of thermal fluid deposit and gas hydrate. Contract signed with the International Seabed Authority; to carry out pioneering survey on the resources of thermal fluid deposit and gas hydrate.

Research and development of deepsea technology

　　To develop 6000m submarine manned vehicle; to fulfill the sea-trial of the mining system of the polymetallic nodule; to carry out study on the technology of processing and utilizing deepsea resources including gene resources of deep-sea organisms.

Environmental study and evaluation

　　To continue the project of Natural Variability of Baseline (NaVaBa) and participate actively in the Global Environmental Foundation (GEF) of the International Seabed Authority so as to make contribution to the formulation of international environmental regulations on the exploration and exploitation of deep-sea resources. 

　

COMRA

Address: 1 Fuxingmenwai Ave., Beijing  100860, China

TEL: (86-10) 68033318

Fax:  (86-10) 68030504

Email:  Comra@Public.bta.net.cn