Takaichi sets February for full-scale rare earth mining test

 Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Friday on X that a "full-scale" rare earth mining test will commence in February 2027, following a successful world-first extraction of 50 tons of mud from 6,000 meters below the seabed near Minamitorishima.

"Among them, 'yttrium,' which accounts for 30% of the rare earth elements contained in the rare earth mud, is globally scarce and is used in coating agents for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, catalysts for purifying harmful nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases, and in the semiconductor and automotive industries, making it an important rare earth for our country," she specified.

Takaichi stressed the importance of reducing dependence on specific nations for critical supply chains. Japan, one of the US's partners in the region, seems to be pushing to mirror global trends. One of the first moves of the Trump administration was to sign an order to boost critical minerals production, underscoring the strategic race for independent resource security.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Takaichi-sets-February-for-full-scale-rare-earth-mining-test/66767565