日本挖深海泥希望实现稀土国产化

Core Viewpoint - Japan is heavily reliant on China for rare earth imports, with over 70% of its supply coming from China, prompting efforts to develop domestic sources of rare earths through deep-sea exploration [1] Group 1: Deep-Sea Exploration - The Japanese deep-sea drilling vessel "Chikyu" departed from Shimizu Port in Shizuoka City to conduct drilling experiments for rare earth-containing seabed mud near Minami-Torishima, approximately 2000 kilometers from Tokyo [1] - The drilling experiment is expected to take about 20 days, with the vessel aiming to retrieve mud samples from a depth of approximately 6000 meters [1] - Japan discovered high concentrations of rare earth mud layers near Minami-Torishima in 2012, which has led to renewed interest in domestic rare earth production [1] Group 2: Strategic Implications - The recent announcement by China to ban exports of dual-use items to Japan has heightened concerns within Japan regarding its dependence on foreign sources for rare earths [1] - The project leader, Masakazu Ishii, indicated that Japan is considering diversifying its rare earth procurement sources to reduce over-reliance on specific countries, with a focus on achieving domestic production [1] - If the deep-sea drilling experiment is successful, Japan aims to initiate commercial mining by February 2027 [1]