By Helen Reid JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – French automaker Renault SA has backed a moratorium on deep-sea mining, the company told Reuters on Wednesday, committing to exclude seabed metals from its supply chain in a blow to the nascent industry. In October, French President Emmanuel Macron identified deep seabed exploration as an investment priority for France, highlighting the potential of gaining access to “rare metals” as well as a better understanding of marine ecosystems. The French government is the top shareholder of Renault, holding 15.01%. The decision by Renault – one of France’s two le…