A groundbreaking discovery has been made in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, nearly 2,000 kilometers southeast of Tokyo, where a vast reserve of rare metals, including cobalt and nickel, has been found deep below the sea surface. Researchers have identified manganese nodules rich in these valuable metals near Minami-Torishima island, with plans underway to begin trial collection as early as 2025.
The University of Tokyo and the Nippon Foundation announced on June 21 that a research team had conducted a survey from April to June to assess the mineral resources on the seabed at depths of 5,200 to 5,700 meters. The findings indicate that there are approximately 230 million tons of manganese nodules in the area, containing an estimated 610,000 tons of cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel.
With the experimental operation set to commence in 2025, researchers aim to collect about 2,500 tons of manganese nodules per day, ultimately securing 3 million tons annually. These rare metals are crucial components in the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, and other electronics, yet Japan currently relies on imports due to limited domestic sources in regions like Africa and Australia.
Yasuhiro Kato, a professor at the University of Tokyo, emphasized the economic significance of nickel and cobalt, stressing the importance of developing these resources to enhance Japan’s economic security. Researchers are hopeful that the undersea concentrations of manganese nodules near Minami-Torishima island will serve as a substantial domestic supply, reducing the country’s dependency on foreign imports. As the world looks towards sustainable and efficient energy solutions, the discovery of these rare metals beneath the ocean’s surface marks a significant step towards securing Japan’s future in the global market.
