In a surprising turn, Norway has put a halt to its deep-sea mining initiative aimed at allowing companies to extract precious metals from its vast maritime territory. The government intended to open up 280,000 square kilometers of seabed—an area larger than the UK—prompting widespread protests and significant backlash from environmental advocates and 32 nations, including France and Germany. Facing demands from the Socialist Left Party and mounting international pressure, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoer labeled the recent move a “postponement” rather than a cancellation, with ongoing work to evaluate environmental regulations. Environmentalists celebrated this decision, calling it a victory for marine life conservation, while deep-sea mining start-ups are now bracing for significant delays. Norway's previous ambitions had put it at odds with broader EU and UK efforts urging a ban on such practices due to environmental degradation fears. As part of its plan, Norway aimed to minimize reliance on imported metals vital for green technologies, but will now conduct further research before issuing any mining licenses.