Professor Yasuhiro Kato of the University of Tokyo (centre right) and Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation (left), hold manganese nodules.The Japan Times
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Japan’s recent discovery of significant nickel and cobalt deposits near Minami-Tori-shima Island, about 1,200 miles from Tokyo, could reshape its position in the global resource supply chain. These underwater nodules hold promise for Japan’s economic future.
The discovery, made by a joint team from The Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo, has identified 610,000 metric tons of cobalt and 740,000 metric tons of nickel, with a combined estimated value of approximately $26.29 billion. These deposits are located on the seabed at depths between 5,200 and 7,400 meters, entirely within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These metals are critical for producing electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and other advanced technologies, and their extraction could significantly reduce Japan’s dependence on imports
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