Japanese researchers have uncovered 230 million tons of manganese deposits, rich in metals vital for electric vehicle batteries and smartphones, boosting the country’s push for supply chain independence.
The discovery was made on the ocean floor off Minami-Torishima Island, situated about 1,200 miles southeast of Tokyo, by researchers from the University of Tokyo and the nonprofit Nippon Foundation.
The underwater mineral field contains 740,000 metric tons of nickel and 610,000 metric tons of cobalt. This is enough to meet demand in Japan for 11 and 75 years, respectively, according to the researchers.
Nickel and cobalt are widely used in renewable energy storage systems, particularly in lithium-ion battery chemistries, while cobalt is essential for rechargeable batteries in consumer electronics and plays a role in semiconductor production. Both metals, as well as manganese, are critical for technologies such as lithium electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Japan is not alone in its bid to diversify its critical commodities. The U.S. and a number of other countries are also seeking new sources of rare metals and minerals such as tungsten, manganese, and rare earth elements (REEs). China has a chokehold on many of these, which Washington says poses a national security risk.
A June report by the U.S. Geological Survey framed China’s cobalt dominance as a major supply chain risk, especially given rising geopolitical tensions. “Critical mineral export restrictions could pose serious challenges to non-Chinese battery-producing and consuming industries,” the report warned.
China has been accused of weaponizing this leverage over Japan in the past. After a Chinese fishing boat’s collision with the Japanese coast guard in the disputed Senkaku Islands sparked a diplomatic row, Beijing reportedly began blocking REE shipments to its neighbor.
This year, Chinese officials reportedly threatened to curb mineral exports vital to Japan’s auto industry. The warning came as Tokyo tightened restrictions on chipmaking equipment sales to Chinese companies in July, aligning with U.S. efforts to block Beijing’s access to advanced chips, Bloomberg reported in September, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The Japanese discovery was the result of an underwater survey conducted between April and June, covering over 100 sites along the ocean floor near Minami-Torishima. Using a remotely operated vehicle at depths exceeding 17,000 feet, the team identified an expanse of nodules, each about the size of a fist, spread out over a 6,200-square-mile area.
The total value of the find is estimated at $26.6 billion, based on current trading prices of $16,035 per metric ton for nickel and $24,300 per metric ton for cobalt.
The Nippon Foundation announced plans to begin large-scale extraction by the end of fiscal year 2025, with the University of Tokyo contributing to material analysis. “Starting in 2026, we expect to set up a joint venture with multiple Japanese companies to commercialize the minerals as domestically produced resources,” the foundation said.
Newsweek reached out to the Nippon Foundation via written request for comment.
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