Decision of the International Seabed Authority(ISA)Council relating to application by the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association(COMRA)for contract extension for exploration for polymetallic nodules between COMRA and ISA

The Council of the International Seabed Authority,

Acting upon the recommendation of the Legal and Technical Commission,

Recalling that, on 22 May 2001, the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association entered into a 15-year contract for exploration for polymetallic nodules with the International Seabed Authority,

Noting that, on 19 November 2015, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority received an application for a five-year extension of the contract,

Recalling section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982,2

Recalling also the Decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority relating to the procedures and criteria for the extension of an approved plan of work for exploration pursuant to section 1, paragraph 9, of the annex to the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982,3

Considering the report and recommendation of the Legal and Technical Commission relating to the application by the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association for extension of the contract,

Noting that, in paragraph 14 of his report to the Council, the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission had summarized the modifications to the plans of work for exploration proposed by the applicants during the extension period,4

Noting also paragraph 16 of the report of the Chair of the Legal and Technical Commission,

1. Decides to approve the application for extension of the contract;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to execute the extension of the contract, with effect from 22 May 2016, by signature of an agreement in the form set out in appendix II to the annex to the decision of the Council of the International Seabed Authority mentioned above;3

3. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council at its next session on the status of the extension agreement, including details of the modifications to the plans of work for exploration;

4. Invites the applicant to be ready to proceed to exploitation at the end of the five-year extension period.