NORI supports educational initiatives
NORI supports educational
initiatives
The Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.
(NORI), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Metals Company with Nauru
as the sponsoring state, continues to support educational
initiatives in Nauru and the wider Pacific.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade Lionel Aingimea updated parliament on the recent developments
regarding the NORI Nodule Project, 5 April, including scholarships
and project sponsorships in the communities.
Seven students have been awarded
NORI-sponsored undergraduate scholarships for studies at the
University of the South Pacific through the NORI-USP scholarship
program.
Additionally NORI initiated several
grassroots community programs supporting small and medium scale
development projects that are focused on creating positive changes
in the communities including education, ocean health, environment,
agriculture, sports, and women empowerment.
Country Manager Lesi Olsson says
the effects of climate change have become more evident especially
in the Pacific. Alternative energy sources such as solar, wind,
tidal and wave will help the world transition away from burning
fossil fuel and oil and lower the impact of climate change.
These energies are stored in
batteries and the critical metals required in batteries are
"nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese…all of which are concentrated
in these [polymetallic nodules] rocks".
The International Seabed Authority
(ISA) awarded NORI a polymetallic nodule exploration contract in
2011 sponsored by the government of the Republic of Nauru. Under
this contract NORI has exploration rights in the Clarion Clipperton
Zone (CCZ) which is 8,505km from Nauru, to source critical metals
required for the transition to a non-carbon future.
The Nauru Seabed Mineral Authority
and Nauru Ocean Resource Inc. are working together on the
polymetallic nodule industry in international waters.
To learn more about the NORI nodule
project, NORI's community programs and initiatives including
training opportunities, or request a presentation to the
communities, visit the NORI office located at the Eigigu Hardware
Store Building, Denig District to meet with NORI Country Manager
Lesi Olsson and NORI's Program Administrator Lisa Cook. Contact
5574391 or email Lesi@nori.nr
ENDS ///