Japan | A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

Tag Archives: Japan

#Japan tackles challenges of seafloor #RareEarth mining, eyeing economic security

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

An underwater scene featuring a deep-sea mining vehicle near Japan, with the Japanese flag in the background. The text highlights Japan's advancements in deep-sea technology, referencing a depth of 6,000 meters.

Japan’s government is taking on the challenge of mining critical minerals, including rare earths, from the seabed around Minamitorishima, a remote Japanese island in the Pacific, with an eye to realizing domestic rare earth production in the future.

Securing such minerals is a matter of vital importance for Japan, which is poor in natural resources. In February of this year, the country succeeded in a test collection of rare earth-bearing mud at a depth of 6,000 meters below sea level near the island, which is in the Tokyo village of Ogasawara.

While commercialization is being targeted for 2028 at the earliest, the government faces the challenge of striking a balance between the importance of the mining for economic security and its economic viability.

Rich mineral resources are believed to lie in the ocean floor around Minamitorishima. Cobalt-rich crusts and manganese nodules have been found there. Cobalt and manganese are used for electric vehicle batteries.

Furthermore, the presence of mud containing scarce and expensive heavy rare earth elements, such as neodymium and dysprosium, has also been confirmed, and development is being promoted under government leadership. Neodymium and dysprosium are needed for high-performance motors used in EVs and wind power generators.

“We have promoted technical development over the years to make the world’s first attempt” at deep-sea rare earth mining, said Shoichi Ishii, an official at the Cabinet Office who is leading the rare earth-rich mud development project.

#Australia-#Japan Joint Statement on Elevated #CriticalMinerals Cooperation

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Map of Australia highlighting major regions rich in critical minerals essential for technology, clean energy, and national security. Locations include deposits of rare earths, nickel, magnesium, gallium, and fluorite across various states.

The two Governments have already identified the following key projects that have the potential to materially diversify the supply chains for critical minerals:

Lynas Rare Earths Project
A flagship initiative symbolising collaboration between Japanese and Australian industry on critical minerals. In 2011, a joint venture (JARE) between Sojitz Corporation and JOGMEC provided equity and loan financing to Lynas Rare Earths to commence light rare earth production. In 2025, the project reached a further milestone with the commencement of heavy rare earth production.
Alcoa Gallium Recovery Project
This project involves Alcoa working with Japan Australia Gallium Associates (JAGA)—a joint venture between Sojitz and JOGMEC—to develop gallium recovery at one of Alcoa’s operating alumina refineries in Western Australia, for use in semiconductors, LEDs, and solar cells. The project is planning to be supported by equity investment from the Governments of Japan, Australia, and the United States.
Magnium Magnesium Project
Magnium Australia is planning the commercial production of high‑purity magnesium, widely used in lightweight applications including the automotive and aerospace sectors, in Western Australia using a low‑carbon process with reduced environmental impact. Hanwa Co. Ltd., a Japanese trading company, as well as the Government of Japan, has also expressed interest in this initiative.
Tivan Fluorite Project
The Speewah Fluorite Project, located in Western Australia, is a Japanese Government‑supported initiative involving a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and JOGMEC, in collaboration with Tivan Limited, to produce acid‑grade fluorite, a key raw material for hydrofluoric acid used in semiconductors, EVs, and other advanced applications. It has also received a non-binding and conditional Letter of Support from EFA.
RZ Resources Critical Minerals Project
The Copi Critical Minerals Project in New South Wales is a mineral sands project, looking to develop supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements, owned by RZ Resources, with participation from JX Metals Corporation and Marubeni Corporation. It has also received non-binding indications of support as a critical minerals project from EFA and the U.S. Export Import Bank.
Ardea Resources Kalgoorlie Nickel Project
The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Goongarrie Hub is one of the largest nickel cobalt resources in Australia. The project is being developed as a joint venture with Ardea Resources, Sumitomo Metal Mining, and Mitsubishi Corporation. The Government of Japan has provided funding support under its economic security grant towards building a resilient and secure critical minerals supply chain. The project has received non-binding and conditional indications of support from EFA and the U.S. Export Import Bank. The Australian Government has selected Ardea to participate in its investor front door pilot, which aims to streamline project engagement with government.

Ardea – Western #Australian #Nickel project grabs #Japanese – #US attention

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

A silhouette of Australia filled with an industrial landscape featuring mining activity, overlaid with the flags of the United Kingdom, United States, and Japan, symbolizing international relationships.

Ardea Resources’ Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) has received a shout-out in the Japan-US Critical Minerals Joint Fact Sheet, a call-to-action to shore up critical mineral supply chains between the two powerful nations and other Western markets.

The company’s nickel-cobalt project, about 70 kilometres north of the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia, comprises its bulk-scale KNP – Goongarrie Hub and hosts a mammoth 854 million tonnes grading 0.71 per cent nickel and 0.045 per cent cobalt for a whopping 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of cobalt.Ardea Resources’ Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) has received a shout-out in the Japan-US Critical Minerals Joint Fact Sheet, a call-to-action to shore up critical mineral supply chains between the two powerful nations and other Western markets.

#US #CriticalMinerals talks advance with #EU, #Japan on price floor

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

A display of critical metals featuring a metal ingot labeled 'CRITICAL METALS', two batteries, and assorted rocks, with the flags of the United States, European Union, and Japan in the background alongside the Statue of Liberty and Tokyo Tower.

The US, Japan and the European Union are set to announce plans in the coming weeks to lay the foundation for a trade agreement in critical minerals, according to people familiar with the preparations.

The Office of the US Trade Representative, which has led negotiations with Brussels and Tokyo on the framework, will also head talks for a trade deal that is set to include a price floor and tariffs for the materials to counter any market distortions by China, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Global efforts to diversify critical minerals supply chains intensified after Beijing last year imposed sweeping export controls, including on rare earths and critical minerals, in response to President Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs, which set a 10% levy on nearly all American imports.

Beijing has threatened it would retaliate against the formation of a bloc that would target its exports.

The supply crunch has eased somewhat since its worst point last summer and fall, but companies still complain that they don’t receive the quantities they need and have ordered from Chinese suppliers.

#Japan, #France and #Canada work on alternatives to #US-led trade bloc for #RareEarth supplies

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

A collage featuring critical minerals and rare earth elements, with landmarks from Japan, France, and Canada. Includes a magnet, smartphone, electronic components, and an electric car charging.

Group of Seven members Japan, France and Canada are working on alternatives to a U.S.-led trade bloc to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, according to three senior officials from these countries.

Some ‌options include import quotas on certain rare earths, subsidies for mining companies to diversify the supply chain on critical minerals, and a buyers’ club,a Canada-led G7 initiative that aims to develop a reliable supply chain of critical minerals outside of China and break that country’s monopoly on these metals.

Rare earths are difficult-to-extract metals used in cell phones, EVs, and high-tech weapons. China currently controls over 90% of these metals and imposed export controls last year in retaliation for U.S. tariffs.

Japan has asked its manufacturing industries to strike commercial deals with rare earths projects that it has funded with allies such as France, Australia, and Canada.

“They might not be the cheapest, but now that the industry understands the balance of ‌risk ⁠and price, it is not a bad idea to use those projects,” Hatada explained.

Benjamin Gallezot, France’s interministerial delegate for supplies of strategic minerals and metals, told Reuters the U.S. proposal is one way to diversify, “but there are other ways to do it.” “There will not be a general policy, that is our view. Second, it has to be built and discussed between a large number of countries, not only the G7, but G7 plus.”

#India reaches out to critical mineral producers for processing technology

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: India has reached out to key critical mineral producers to bring in processing technology into the country, officials said. The move comes close on the back of the government rolling out auctions of critical mineral mines.

“Talks are on with the United States (US), Australia, and United Kingdom (UK), South Korea, and Japan for processing technology. Brazil and Argentina are also positive about collaborating with India,” a senior mines ministry official told ET.
According to another official aware of the plan, agreements with countries are being lined up and will soon be signed.

While India is going ahead with auction of mines holding critical minerals, there are no facilities for their beneficiation.

“We want to target India’s first critical mineral beneficiation and processing plant in the next 3-5 years,” the official quoted above said. “We want to ensure that development of critical mineral processing and extraction happen in parallel.”

Jamaica, Japan start cooperation on rare earth extraction

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Jamaica and Japan on Monday started cooperation on rare earth extraction by breaking ground for a pilot plant amid concerns from local environmentalists.

The plant in St. Andrew, funded by Japanese company Nippon Light Metal with initial investment of 3 million US dollars, is expected to extract some 1,500 metric tonnes of rare earth oxides annually from Jamaican red mud.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/760274.shtml