Japan is speeding up a decade-old plan to extract rare earths from the deep seabed, driven by efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese supplies. A state-owned vessel is set to return to port this month after installing equipment in Japanese waters near a coral atoll 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo, with tests to pull metal-bearing mud potentially starting as early as February 2027. The initiative underscores the country's focus on economic security.
Japan is advancing a long-standing initiative to mine rare earths from the ocean floor, motivated by the need to lessen dependence on China for these critical minerals. The project, launched about a decade ago, has gained renewed momentum amid concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities. Shoichi Ishii, program director for Japan’s National Platform for Innovative Ocean Developments, emphasized, “It’s about economic security. The country needs to secure a supply chain of rare earths. However expensive they may be, the industry needs them.”
According to the government agency overseeing the effort, a state-owned vessel will return to port this month following the installation of equipment beneath the surface in Japanese waters, near a coral atoll roughly 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo. The goal is to extract metal-bearing mud from the seabed for testing, with operations possibly beginning as early as February 2027. This deep-sea mining push aims to bolster domestic access to rare earths, which are essential for electronics, renewable energy technologies, and various industries vital to Japan's economy.
Historically, Japan has relied heavily on China for the majority of its rare earth supplies, a situation that has become increasingly precarious amid geopolitical tensions. By tapping into seabed resources, the government seeks to establish more reliable and independent sourcing options.