An extraordinary discovery has been made in the ocean, with extraction set to begin soon.
This rare and strategically significant find could mark a global turning point. A vast deposit of rare metals has been uncovered, potentially containing up to 230 million tons of materials, including approximately 610,000 tons of cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel. This exceptional discovery is particularly valuable, as these materials—nicknamed the « blood diamond » and the « devil’s metal »—are in high demand.
These rare metals are essential for technological products, especially cobalt, which is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, electric vehicles, computers, and even e-cigarettes. The deposit is therefore considered a highly sought-after resource.
The discovery was made in the deep seabed near Minamitori Island, located at the far eastern edge of Japan in the Indian Ocean. It was officially announced on June 21 by the Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo. The two institutions revealed that the deposit, estimated at 230 million tons, spans an area of 10,000 km² within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Among these resources, estimates suggest 610,000 tons of cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel—equivalent to Japan’s national consumption for 75 years and 11 years, respectively.
A three-year experimental extraction phase will begin in 2025, with a projected daily production of several thousand tons of nodules. The private sector could then take over for large-scale exploitation, with the operation’s cost estimated at several tens of millions of dollars. A coordination platform between businesses, the government, and universities is expected to be established under the Nippon Foundation’s oversight.
During a press conference, Professor Katō Yasuhiro, head of the research team at the University of Tokyo, stated that the goal is to extract 10,000 tons per day—around 3 million tons per year—while ensuring the preservation of the marine ecosystem.
