日本2026年1月试采南鸟岛海域稀土

Core Viewpoint - Japan aims to recover rare earth-containing mud from a depth of 5,500 meters using a deep-sea exploration vessel, which, if successful, would mark the first instance globally. This initiative is part of Japan's strategy to develop domestic resources and reduce reliance on China, which currently dominates global rare earth production [1][3]. Group 1: Project Details - The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) plans to commence trial mining in January 2026 in the waters near Minami-Torishima, with an estimated rare earth reserve of 16 million tons in the area, making it the third largest globally [1][2]. - The initial trial mining was scheduled for 2024 but has been postponed to 2025 due to delays in the procurement of necessary equipment, with a budget of approximately 12 billion yen for the pipeline [2]. - The trial will involve recovering about 35 tons of mud, with an expected yield of around 2 kilograms of rare earths per ton of mud, and will last approximately three weeks [2]. Group 2: Economic and Strategic Implications - The project is seen as significant for Japan's economic security, especially in light of China's export controls on rare earths, although profitability remains uncertain [3]. - JAMSTEC emphasizes the importance of developing independent rare earth recovery technology for Japan, which is crucial for national security [3].