The startup operates a mineral exploration company focused on the renewable energy sector in Stavanger, Norway, utilizing proprietary production equipment designs and conducting research on seabed mineral extraction. It facilitates the procurement of area licenses while minimizing environmental impact, addressing the need for sustainable resource development in the industry.
Funding
$13M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
The increasing demand for critical minerals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements, essential for renewable energy technologies, necessitates new sourcing methods. Traditional terrestrial mining faces challenges including environmental damage to vulnerable regions, declining mineral grades, ethical concerns, and geopolitical risks.
Solution
Loke Marine Minerals is addressing the growing need for critical minerals by exploring and developing deep-sea mineral resources. The company leverages geoscience and subsea expertise to develop sustainable technologies for the exploration and extraction of seabed minerals, focusing on minimizing environmental impact. Loke's approach includes advanced exploration techniques, such as AUV-mounted multibeam sonars and ROV-carried digital box coring systems, to efficiently map mineral abundance. They are also developing production technologies like minimum plume nodule collectors and cutting tools for manganese crusts, designed to reduce sediment disturbance and plume generation.
Target Audience
Loke's primary target audience includes companies involved in the renewable energy sector, battery manufacturers, and other industries requiring a sustainable and secure supply of critical minerals.
Features
- AUV-mounted multibeam sonars for topography and large area abundance mapping
- ROV-carried Digital Box Coring system for efficient nodule abundance mapping
- ROV-carried sampling storage skid for collecting nodules, geotechnical, and environmental samples in one operation
- AUV fly-by based acoustic method for manganese crust thickness measurement
- Minimum Plume Nodule Collector using mechanical fingers to lift minerals and minimize sediment disturbance
- Cutting and collection technology for manganese crust, utilizing free-swimming tools operating in autonomous formation
- Vertical Transportation System for transporting cuttings to the production vessel while minimizing plume