Japan has made a significant discovery that could have substantial economic benefits. Researchers have found a large deposit of rare minerals on the seabed around Minami-Tori-shima island. This discovery is expected to be crucial for Japan’s economic security and the future of its electric vehicle (EV) industry.
The survey, conducted in collaboration with The Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo, revealed that the seabed contains approximately 610,000 metric tons of cobalt and 740,000 metric tons of nickel. These minerals are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, and the amounts found are equivalent to about 11 years of domestic consumption in Japan.
Between April and June of this year, a team used remotely operated underwater vehicles to survey 100 seabed sites. They discovered a field of dense manganese nodules at depths ranging from 5,200 to 5,700 meters, approximately 1,200 miles from Tokyo. The nodules, which also contain copper, are believed to have formed over millions of years as metals in the ocean adhered to fish bones and settled on the seabed.
The manganese nodules were initially discovered during a 2016 survey, which also noted that some nodules were found around Megalodon teeth, the remains of the largest shark known to have lived.
Yasuhiro Kato, a professor at the University of Tokyo specializing in resource geology, announced plans to begin mining three million tons of these nodules annually starting in 2025. This approach aims to continue development while minimizing environmental impact. To achieve this, the team will use overseas mining vessels to extract several thousand tons of nodules each day.
The discovery is expected to benefit Japan’s EV industry by reducing reliance on foreign sources of cobalt and nickel, meeting domestic demand, and contributing to the growth of Japan’s economy. The researchers aim to establish a domestic supply chain that spans from resource mining to manufacturing, enhancing Japan’s position as a leader in science, technology, and ocean exploration.
Looking ahead, the University of Tokyo plans to collaborate with researchers from various disciplines to develop environmentally friendly technologies and high-performance materials using the new resources.
