TOKYO: Japan has successfully retrieved sediment containing rare earth elements from a depth of 6,000 metres in the Pacific Ocean, marking a major milestone in its efforts to strengthen economic security and diversify critical mineral supplies.
The government said Monday that the test mission — the first of its kind at such depths — demonstrated the feasibility of tapping deep-sea rare earth resources. Officials will now analyse the sediment to determine the concentration and commercial potential of the minerals.
“This is a meaningful achievement both in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime development,” government spokesman Kei Sato said.
The sample was collected by the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel Chikyu, which departed last month for waters near the remote island of Minami Torishima, an area believed to hold one of the world’s largest untapped rare earth deposits. The site lies within Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
According to AFP, the discovery comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region and growing concerns in Tokyo over supply chain vulnerability. China, which dominates global rare earth production and refining, has recently restricted exports of certain dual-use materials, heightening fears that mineral supplies could be used as geopolitical leverage.
Rare earth elements — a group of 17 metals that are difficult to extract — are essential for high-tech and clean energy industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and advanced defence systems.
According to Japan’s Nikkei business daily, the Minami Torishima deposits could total more than 16 million tonnes, making it the world’s third-largest known reserve. The area is estimated to contain hundreds of years’ worth of key materials such as dysprosium and yttrium, critical for magnets, lasers and electric motors.
Experts say a successful transition to commercial extraction would be a game changer for Japan’s industrial resilience.
“If Japan could continuously extract rare earths around Minami Torishima, it would secure a domestic supply chain for key industries,” said Takahiro Kamisuna of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “It would significantly reduce dependence on China.”
China currently accounts for nearly two-thirds of global rare earth mining and more than 90 percent of refined output, underscoring the strategic significance of Japan’s deep-sea breakthrough.
