The Japanese government plans to start studying the possibility of mining rare earths and other key minerals in Greenland as early as this summer, the Nikkei Asia Review reported Monday, the move is aimed at helping Japanese companies invest in local rare earth projects.
“It is essential for Japan to diversify its sources of rare earths,” the report said, a joint mission of officials from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, trade and Industry and representatives of trading companies visited a working feldspar mine in Greenland and concluded that, even in the coldest weather, even in extremely cold weather.
According to reports, the Japanese government will next send from the“Japan Metal and Energy Security Agency” geologists to visit Greenland. The geologists will meet with local government officials and visit mines where rare earths are to be mined. In addition to assessing the size of the deposits, they will also study the cost of mining and other issues.
According to the United States Geological Survey estimates, Greenland’s rare earth reserves of 1.5 million tons, ranking eighth in the world. Countries expect it to become easier to extract as rising temperatures melt the ice. US President Donald Trump has taken a keen interest in acquiring rare earths from Greenland.
Japanese government officials have predicted that Greenland’s deposits could contain dysprosium, a rare earth element used in electric motors, graphite used in batteries and other minerals. The mining activity may even yield tantalum and niobium, the key list of semiconductor materials. At present, rare earth mining in Greenland has not yet fully started, the US and European companies are in the preparatory stage. Japanese companies are likely to partner with foreign companies.
But the difficulty in mining Greenland’s rare earths will be shipping them to Japan, the report said. One idea in Tokyo is to create a supply chain involving“Like-minded” countries, including refining within the EU.
The Japanese government is scouring the world for minerals. According to a previous report by the Nikkei Asia review, at the first“Central Asia + Japan” summit held in Tokyo from December 19 to 20 last year, japan’s prime minister, Masamichi Takashi, has set his sights on the mineral resources of the five Central Asian countries. After the talks, the parties agreed to cooperate in ensuring a stable supply of important mineral resources such as rare earths. According to Kyodo News reported on May 19 this year, Japan’s trade minister Yoshimi Akazawa was in Tokyo the same day with Australia’s trade and Tourism Minister Farrell talks, the two sides agreed to work together to ensure a stable supply of rare earths.
In addition, Japan also started seabed rare earth test mining in the South Bird Island waters earlier this year. However, according to an analysis on Nikkei’s Chinese website, there are still problems such as refining technology and cost in seabed mining, even within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, commercial mining of rare earth mud is also likely to be criticized by the international community.