日本挖到含稀土泥浆 专家称成果被夸大 其最终成本是中国的近20倍

Core Viewpoint - Japan's government has announced the successful trial extraction of rare earth mud from the seabed near Minami-Torishima, but experts caution that the results are being overstated and the project is still in its early stages [1][4][10] Group 1: Project Details - The "Chikyuu" drilling vessel successfully returned to Shimizu Port on February 14 after conducting trials in Japan's exclusive economic zone [1][3] - The trial aimed to test the performance of equipment and operational processes for extracting rare earth mud from deep sea [6][9] - The project team connected approximately 600 pipes to extract softened mud from the seabed, demonstrating the technical feasibility of the extraction process [6][9] Group 2: Government and Political Context - The announcement of the trial's success was made by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yohei Matsumoto, ahead of the planned date, likely influenced by upcoming elections [4][10] - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promoted the trial's success in public speeches, claiming the rare earth resources could last for generations [4][10] Group 3: Economic Viability and Challenges - The extraction process is expected to be costly, with estimates suggesting that the cost of extracting deep-sea rare earth minerals could reach $50 to $100 per kilogram, potentially exceeding $150 in some cases [9][10] - The operational cost of the "Chikyuu" vessel is approximately 10 billion yen (around $64 million) annually, which adds to the overall expense of the project [9][10] - Current estimates suggest that the price of rare earths extracted from Minami-Torishima could be around $70,000 per ton, significantly higher than the average price of $3,600 per ton for Chinese rare earths [9][10] Group 4: Technical and Environmental Concerns - The rare earth content in the mud is low, and the separation process is complex, requiring advanced refining technology [8][9] - Environmental concerns regarding the waste generated during the refining process have not been adequately addressed [9][10] - Experts indicate that the project is currently a technical demonstration rather than a commercially viable operation, with future commercial attempts likely to depend on government subsidies [10]