TMC the metals Co Inc. 8-K

What Happened

• On January 22, 2026, TMC the metals Co Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, The Metals Company USA, LLC (“TMC USA”), formally submitted a consolidated application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seeking an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit for polymetallic nodules in international waters of the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean. The filing was made under NOAA’s new consolidated application and review process and is described as the first submission of its kind.

Key Details

• Filing date: January 22, 2026.
• Applicant: The Metals Company USA, LLC (wholly owned by TMC the metals Co Inc.).
• Permits sought: NOAA exploration license and commercial recovery permit for polymetallic nodules.
• Location: International waters of the Clarion Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean.
• Process note: Submitted under NOAA’s new consolidated application and review process; company described this as the first submission of its kind.

Why It Matters

• This 8-K informs investors of a regulatory milestone: TMC USA advancing from planning toward formal U.S. federal review for seafloor mineral exploration and potential commercial recovery. Approval processes and timelines by NOAA could materially affect the company’s project development schedule and regulatory risk profile. The filing itself does not report financial results or approvals—only that the application was formally submitted.