US EditionJapan launches rare earths seabed mission to cut China reliance amid export tensions
Japan's month-long test aims to extract rare-earth seabed mud 6 km deep to build domestic supply chains and cut China reliance, with full-scale mining planned for 2027.
- Japan has started deep-sea test mining for rare earth minerals around Minami Torishima island to reduce its reliance on China.
- The area is estimated to contain over 16 million tons of rare earths, the third-largest reserve globally.
- Successful mining could help Japan secure its domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on China for these key materials.
64 Articles
64 Articles
This Monday, January 12, Tokyo launches a critical ore recovery operation in its seabed, a first for the country that wants to reduce its dependence on China but harms local ecosystems.
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Japan begins trial to explore mining deep-sea rare earths
Japan launched the world’s first deep-sea trial for mining rare earths, as the global race to secure access to the key metals heats up. Japan and much of the West have moved to diversify the supply and refining of rare earths — crucial for the manufacture of cars, electronics, and military equipment — away from China after Beijing threatened to cut off US-bound supplies amid a trade dispute with Washington. In response, US Treasury Secretary Sco…
China turns on the raw material screw, Japan answers with a daring deep-sea project: In front of Minamitori a research vessel wants to fetch rare earths from 6,000 meters depth
Japan has sent a mining vessel to extract rare earth minerals from a depth of 6 kilometers, aiming to create domestic resources after China began tightening export controls on key minerals used in the electric vehicle and weapons industries.
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