Japan and the US intend to cooperate in the field of mining rare earth metals from the ocean floor off the coast of Minamitorishima Island, said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, TASS reported, BTA reported.
"Providing various ways to mine rare earth metals is important for both Japan and the US. We will continue to consider specific ways for cooperation between Japan and the US in developing rare earth deposits in the waters near Minamitorishima Island," she said during a speech in parliament. Minamitorishima is located about 1,900 km from the mainland of Japan.
According to Takaichi, scientific studies have shown that there are various minerals, including rare earth metals, on the ocean floor near the island. "We are currently conducting further research, as well as studying mining methods," she added.
The prime minister noted that demonstration tests for extracting rare earth metals from the seabed at a depth of 6,000 meters are planned to be held as early as January 2026.
As previously reported by Japanese media, the deposit is located in the area of Minamitorishima Island at a depth of 5.5 thousand meters and extends over 10 thousand square kilometers. Deposits of spherical mineral formations containing rare metals have been discovered there. The total volume is estimated at 210 million tons, containing about 610,000 tons of cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel.