Japan hits jackpot, finds 230 million tons of EV battery metal deposits

In the electric vehicle-obsessed world of today, Japan has hit the jackpot by finding huge mineral deposits near an isolated island in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

According to researchers, the mineral resources found on the seabed near Minami-Torishima are enough to meet the country’s cobalt consumption needs for 75 years, and it also has over a decade’s supply of nickel.

The approximately 230 million tonnes of manganese deposits have been found in the form of fist-sized nodules. The nodules contain about 20% manganese and up to 1% cobalt and nickel, according to a report by NIKKEI Asia.

Manganese, cobalt, and nickel are important constituents of lithium-ion batteries, and therefore are considered essential for advancing EV production.

The researchers estimate that the deposits, which are spread across an area of around 10,000 square meters, roughly contain approximately 610,000 tonnes of  cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel.

Mineral deposit discovery

The site of the mineral discovery around Minami-Torishima island in Japan had been under observation since 2016. However, a detailed survey of the site started in April last year and continued till early June 2024.

The detailed survey results showed promising signs and revealed the huge mineral deposits in the area.

Researchers used mining equipment and remotely controlled underwater vehicles to carry out the probe at multiple spots on the seabed which was 5,200 to 5,700 meters deep.

According to the researchers, nodules like these form when iron and manganese oxides dissolved in seawater precipitate around their nuclei. The deposits also contain copper, another valuable element.

Boost to Japan’s EV industry

The mineral discovery will give a big boost to Japan’s EV industry by decreasing its dependence on other countries.

This discovery can enable Japan to satiate the internal demand for EV batteries and also give a tough competition to China in the global market.

The team of researchers, comprised of non-profit Nippon Foundation and University of Tokyo, plan to “start extracting 2,500 tons of the mineral resource per day in an experimental project by the end of March 2026.”

Moreover, the Nippon Foundation also aims to form a consortium with the aim of commercializing production by 2026 in Japan.

According to the team, the mineral deposits are enough for commercial use, including extraction and refining costs.

The nodules are “concentrated and offer quite good materials” says Yasuhiro Kato, professor at the University of Tokyo and part of the team which made the 2016 discovery, according to the NIKKEI Asia report .

Kato also pushes for “creating new industries and establishing the next-generation energy infrastructure by utilizing domestic seafloor mineral resources” in Japan.

He says that the researchers plan to team up with other companies to develop eco-friendly products and technologies by utilizing the mineral deposits found in the area around the island which is approximately 1180 miles (1,900 kilometers) away from the national capital, Tokyo.

“Ultimately, we expect that our research outcomes will help boost Japan’s growth by establishing a domestic supply chain stretching from ‘resource-mining’ to ‘manufacturing’, and make Japan a science- technology-, and ocean-oriented nation in a true sense of word,” a release by the university reads.