Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on June 29 instructed cabinet officials to advance industrial-scale seabed rare earth mining near Minamitorishima by fiscal year 2027. The directive, issued at a cabinet ocean policy meeting, targets daily processing capacity of 350 tons or more of seabed clay sediment. The initiative aims to reduce Japan's dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies, positioning the project within the government's broader economic security framework.
JAMSTEC Collects Rare Earth Sediment at 5,600-Meter Depth in February
In February, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) successfully collected rare earth-bearing clay sediment from the seabed near Minamitorishima at a depth of approximately 5,600 meters using the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu. Prime Minister Takaichi stated at the meeting that the government intends to establish the necessary systems for development from an economic security perspective. However, improving economic efficiency remains a current challenge.
Japan Allocates 3 Trillion Yen for Marine Sector Investment by Fiscal Year 2040
The Japanese government plans to jointly invest over 3 trillion yen (approximately 591 billion New Taiwan dollars) with the private sector in the marine sector by fiscal year 2040. Of this total, 900 billion yen (approximately 177.3 billion New Taiwan dollars) will be allocated to seabed resource development including rare earth and manganese nodules. An additional 1.2 trillion yen (approximately 236.4 billion New Taiwan dollars) will be invested in unmanned marine vehicles, which are increasingly important in the security domain. The government plans to begin full-scale surveys of seabed rare earth development near Minamitorishima in fiscal year 2027.
Takaichi Directs MDA System Development and Arctic Policy Revision
Prime Minister Takaichi also instructed the establishment of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) using unmanned marine vehicles and satellites. She directed Ocean Policy Minister Akama Jiro and other cabinet members to attract private investment through public procurement, creating an environment where private companies can anticipate certain returns and are willing to make more aggressive initial investments. At the meeting, Nakanishi Hiroshi, chair of the expert committee of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, submitted policy recommendations on ocean policy to Prime Minister Takaichi. Takaichi also requested the government to begin revising the Arctic basic policy, with completion scheduled for fiscal year 2027.
FAQ
What did Japan announce on June 29 regarding rare earth mining?
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae instructed cabinet officials to advance industrial-scale seabed rare earth mining near Minamitorishima by fiscal year 2027, targeting daily processing capacity of 350 tons or more of seabed sediment to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies.
How much will Japan invest in marine sector development by fiscal year 2040?
The Japanese government plans to jointly invest over 3 trillion yen with the private sector in the marine sector by fiscal year 2040, including 900 billion yen for seabed resource development such as rare earth and manganese nodules, and 1.2 trillion yen for unmanned marine vehicles.
When did JAMSTEC successfully collect rare earth sediment near Minamitorishima?
In February, JAMSTEC's deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu successfully collected rare earth-bearing clay sediment from approximately 5,600 meters depth near Minamitorishima.
