Mining the oceans for fresh water – and Uranium

[Marlin]

Mining the oceans for fresh water – and Uranium

https://www.cfact.org/2026/08/01/mining-the-oceans-for-fresh-water-and-uranium/

[Core Content]

SuperCritical Materials Corp. has secured an exclusive Department of Energy license to extract uranium from seawater using specialized acrylic fibers. The Texas-based firm aims to convert captured uranium ions into nuclear fuel, with a long-term goal of producing 1.85 million pounds of uranium annually to support domestic power generation.

This initiative highlights the potential for dual-purpose coastal infrastructure, where uranium recovery could be integrated with desalination operations. By harvesting fuel from seawater, the industry seeks to reduce reliance on imported uranium. The project faces a complex regulatory path involving thirteen state and federal agencies before commercial production can begin.

About 450,000 residents in the Corpus Christi (Texas) metropolitan area are primarily served by fresh water from two severely threatened reservoirs, but the city has become increasingly reliant on water sent via the Mary Rhodes Pipeline from Lake Texana and the Colorado River. The city remains under stage 3 water restrictions despite recent heavy...

The city has twice voted to delay a final vote to approve the billion-dollar, privately funded, state and federally permitted Inner Harbor desalination plant that when operational would produce 30 million gallons per day of potable water — about a quarter of the city's water need (including that of its burgeoning industrial sector).

One possible reason for the second delay was the rains that have pushed back the predicted date for imposing a stage 1 water emergency till the end of 2027. Should that emergency kick in, the city would be only 180 days from not being able to meet water demand – and require residents to cut their water usage by 25%. Even if the council approves the Inner Harbor project at its September meeting, the plant will not become fully operational until sometime in 2029.

Read the full article at CFACT:
https://www.cfact.org/2026/08/01/mining-the-oceans-for-fresh-water-and-uranium/