The Japanese rare earth exploration ship 'Chikyu' has successfully completed its trial excavation in the waters off Minami-Torishima and returned to Shimizu Port after about a month.
The 'Chikyu', a deep-sea exploration vessel operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), returned to its base at Shimizu Port on February 14 after a month-long expedition to test for rare earth elements in the Pacific Ocean. The vessel had successfully extracted sediment potentially containing rare earths from a depth of about 5,700 meters in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding Minami-Torishima. This expedition is part of Japan's efforts to reduce dependence on imported rare earths and to establish a domestic supply chain for these critical materials.
The journey of the 'Chikyu' began on January 12, and after arriving at the operational site on January 17, the ship commenced trial excavations on January 30. According to JAMSTEC, this operation marks the world's first attempt to excavate rare earth elements from such depths in the deep sea. The successful extraction of rare earth-containing sediment represents a significant breakthrough in marine resource research and development, aligning with Japan's national strategy for resource independence and enhancing its position in the global supply chain of critical minerals.
As the demand for rare earth elements increases due to their importance in technology and manufacturing, Japan's initiative to explore domestic sources may influence global markets and supply dynamics. The results from this pioneering expedition will inform future endeavors aimed at further exploration and sustainable extraction of sea bed resources, potentially leading to greater energy security and economic resilience for Japan.
