Deep-sea mining has been proposed as a source of critical metals and minerals for decades, but mining companies now say the technology is almost ready to make this a reality. Mining has not begun yet but 2025 is set to be a crucial year. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulator, has a new leader promising an era of openness, with meetings planned in March and July to discuss the next steps. Mining contractors are pushing for regulations to be agreed by the year’s end and one company hopes to apply to begin mining in 2026. Any country can apply…