New York, Jan 22, 2026, 05:17 EST — Premarket
- TMC shares jumped roughly 13% pre-market following a new NOAA rule that speeds up deep-sea mining permit approvals.
- The company says the updated framework permits a consolidated application covering both exploration and commercial recovery.
- Traders are keeping an eye on the late-January NOAA hearing schedule along with the public comment period linked to TMC’s license applications.
TMC the metals company Inc shares surged roughly 13% in premarket Thursday, hitting $8.17. This came after a U.S. rule change sped up the review process for deep-sea mining permits. The stock had closed near $7.20 on Wednesday.
The move thrusts a policy headline back into the spotlight. Investors are focused on the permitting timeline—rather than metals prices—as the immediate catalyst for TMC, which remains stuck waiting for regulators to determine if and how the U.S. will approve seabed mining on a larger scale.
TMC’s case hinges on polymetallic nodules — metal-packed rocks scattered across the ocean floor — as a source for nickel, copper, and cobalt, key ingredients in batteries and electronics. The shift in permitting rules is crucial; it moves the timeline from “someday” to “under review,” and that alone can send a small-cap stock sharply higher.
The Trump administration is pushing to fast-track deep-sea mining permits in international waters, aiming to jumpstart access to critical minerals before global rules are finalized. This move risks sparking legal battles and environmental disputes.
TMC announced the final rule streamlines the application and review process for exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, the 1980 law regulating U.S. seabed mining beyond national waters. CEO Gerard Barron described it as “a meaningful modernization” and said the company’s U.S. subsidiary plans to file a consolidated application. The Metals Company
Put simply, the consolidated process allows an applicant to submit exploration work and the commercial mining plan at the same time, instead of seeking approval for one before moving on to the next. The company says this approach cuts duplication and speeds up the timeline.
NOAA posted on its deep seabed mining page that the final rule was issued on Jan. 21. The agency outlined the upcoming steps for applications, including a public comment window open until Feb. 23 and virtual hearings set for Jan. 27 and 28. It also highlighted that Lockheed Martin holds two exploration licenses from 1984, with no commercial recovery permits currently active.
The calendar matters because it sets firm deadlines for traders. Public hearings often spark intense criticism, and a cluttered record can bog down a file, even if the rules themselves are simplified.
The downside is clear: deep-sea mining remains mired in political and legal battles, far from an established business. Observers caution the updated U.S. stance might trigger legal challenges and environmental pushback. Meanwhile, global regulations for mining outside national jurisdictions are still up in the air at the U.N.-affiliated International Seabed Authority.
Right now, the stock’s focus is on the coming weeks, not the long haul. Key dates include NOAA’s virtual hearings on Jan. 27-28, the Feb. 23 comment deadline, and any filings from TMC’s U.S. unit for a consolidated application under the new framework.
