The Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority will commemorate its twentieth anniversary, elect nearly half its executive Council and begin elaboration of a mining code for deep seabed polymetallic nodules in the Area beyond national jurisdiction when it convenes for its annual session in Kingston from 14 to 25 July 2014.

The Authority, now with a membership of 166 (including the European Union), will formally begin its session on 15 July. Among the issues on its agenda are seven pending applications for exploration contracts in the seabed Area; the Authority’s 2015-2016 budget; election of 17 States Parties to the 36-member Council for the period 2015 to 2018; and the annual report of the Authority’s Secretary-General, Nii Allotey Odunton (Ghana), which reviews its accomplishments and future activities and programmes.

On 27 January 2014, the Authority signed the first contract for exploration for cobalt-rich crusts with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC). A contract for exploration for cobalt-rich crusts was also signed with China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) in Beijing, China on 29 April 2014.  A contract for exploration for polymetallic sulphides with the Government of the Republic of Korea was signed on 15 June 2014 at Seoul and on 24 June 2014 at Kingston. That brings the number of exploration contracts issued by the International Seabed Authority to 17.