Japan plans record-breaking rare earth mining on the ocean floor

Tokyo [Japan], July 4: Japan will test-mine rare earth minerals from the ocean floor at its deepest ever depth amid growing concerns about supplies of the vital resources.
A Japanese deep-sea scientific drilling vessel named Chikyu will make a "trial voyage" from January 2026 to collect sediment containing rare earth elements from the ocean floor, said Shoichi Ishii, director of Japan 's Inter-Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program.
"The experiment to recover sediment from a depth of 5,500 meters is the first of its kind in the world," Shoichi Ishii told AFP on July 3.
"Our goal on this trip is to check the functionality of all mining equipment. Therefore, the amount of sediment extracted is completely unimportant," Mr. Ishii added.
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is expected to deploy the Chikyu around the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific Ocean - Japan's easternmost point.
The mission aims to extract 35 tons of mud from the seabed over about three weeks, Nikkei Asia reported. Each ton is expected to contain about 2 kilograms of rare earth minerals, which are used to make magnets - an essential component in modern electronics.
The group of 17 rare earth elements, which are difficult to mine from the earth's crust, are used in everything from electric cars to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles. China accounts for nearly two-thirds of global rare earth mining and 92% of global refining, according to the International Energy Agency.
However, in April, China imposed export restrictions on seven groups of medium and heavy rare earth products, a move seen as a response to the US's restrictions on Chinese goods, according to AFP. In response to the above concerns, US President Donald Trump on April 24 signed an executive order to accelerate the extraction of more than 1 billion tons of nickel and copper under the sea.
Recently, the Foreign Ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Area (QUAD) - including the US, Japan, India and Australia - also pledged to ensure a stable supply of important minerals to reduce dependence on supplies from China.
Deep sea mining has become a geopolitical flashpoint, but remains controversial. Environmental campaigners warn that deep sea mining threatens marine ecosystems and disrupts the seabed.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) - the UN body with jurisdiction over international waters - will meet in late July to discuss a global code to govern deep-sea mining.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper