Japan to limit rare-earth mining to protect offshore deposits
The date of：
2021-12-23
viewed:
16
TOKYO -- The Japanese government decided Tuesday to restrict access to the nation's rare-earth resources to a roster of approved miners to protect offshore deposits within its exclusive economic zone.Only operators licensed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will be allowed to mine rare earths. The plan was approved by a METI subcommittee Tuesday, with the legislative proposal to be submitted to next year's regular parliamentary session.At present, rare earths fall beyond the scope of Japanese law regulating mining. When the mining laws were originally written, policymakers did not foresee any domestic rare-earth development. But sediments containing high concentrations of rare earths have been discovered recently in coastal waters.In addition, the government plans to allow the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp. (JOGMEC) to invest up to 75% in mining projects. The government will also allow JOGMEC to invest in or grant debt guarantees to Japanese mineral-refining operations. Under the current law, JOGMEC can only support refining operations overseas, mostly located in China. By allowing JOGMEC to finance refining at home, Japan seeks to mitigate supply-chain risks.As the world moves away from fossil fuels, the race has intensified for access to rare earths used for electric car motors. Demand for other mineral resources, such as lithium and cobalt used in storage batteries, has also skyrocketed.
Hot News
/
Related to recommend
2025
-
09
-
12
Click on the number of times:
0
Synergistic Coupling of Antenna Effect and Schottky Junction in Tb-Doped Covalent Organic Framework for Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Sening of Isobutyryl Fentanyl来源：ACS PublicationsRational desig...
2025
-
09
-
10
Click on the number of times:
0
来源：ACS PublicationsThe development of a catalyst exhibiting high resistance to SO2 and H2O, while demonstrating superior CO oxidation performance, is of significant importance for specific industrial ...
2025
-
09
-
09
Click on the number of times:
0
Structural Investigation of Six Quinary Sulfides Synthesized via the Flux-Assisted Boron-Chalcogen Mixture (BCM) Method Eu2+ Containing Members of the RE3MTQ7 (M and T = Transition or Main Group Metal...
2025
-
09
-
08
Click on the number of times:
0
来源：ACS PublicationsRare-earth ion (Pr3+, Nd3+, and Tm3+)-doped yttrium vanadate (YVO4) crystals have aroused great research interest owing to their excellent laser performances. However, the microstru...