Japan Discovers 230 Million Ton Manganese Deposits, Boosting EV Battery Industry

Japan has discovered 230 million tonnes of manganese deposits near Minami-Torishima Island, potentially transforming its EV battery industry by significantly reducing reliance on imports and providing enough cobalt and nickel for decades.

Japan Uncovers 230 Million Ton Manganese Deposits, Securing Critical Minerals for EV Battery Production

The manganese deposits, which total approximately 230 million tonnes, have been discovered as fist-sized nodules.

Japan has struck gold in the current era of electric vehicles by discovering substantial mineral deposits near an isolated island within the country's exclusive economic zone.

According to researchers (via Interesting Engineering), the mineral resources discovered on the seabed near Minami-Torishima are sufficient to satisfy the nation's cobalt consumption requirements for 75 years, and the country also has a nickel supply that would last for more than a decade.

The manganese deposits, which total approximately 230 million tonnes, have been discovered as fist-sized nodules. According to a report by NIKKEI Asia, the nodules contain approximately 20% manganese and up to 1% cobalt and nickel.

Manganese, cobalt, and nickel are critical components of lithium-ion batteries and are essential for advancing electric vehicle production.

The deposits, distributed over an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, are estimated by the researchers to contain approximately 610,000 tonnes of cobalt and 740,000 tons of nickel.

Extensive Survey Reveals Rich Mineral Deposits Near Japan's Minami-Torishima Island, Promising EV Battery Boost

The mineral discovery site near Minami-Torishima island in Japan has been under surveillance since 2016. Nevertheless, a comprehensive site survey was initiated in April of the previous year and persisted until early June 2024.

The comprehensive survey results indicated optimistic indications and disclosed the substantial mineral deposits in the region.

Researchers employed remotely controlled underwater vehicles and mining equipment to survey numerous seabed locations, measuring 5,200 to 5,700 meters in depth.

According to the researchers, these nodules are formed when iron and manganese oxides dissolved in seawater precipitate around their nuclei. Copper, an additional precious element, is also present in the deposits.

Japan's EV Industry to Soar with New Mineral Deposits, Aiming to Challenge China's Market Dominance

The discovery of minerals will significantly increase Japan's electric vehicle industry by reducing its reliance on foreign countries.

This discovery has the potential to significantly challenge China in the global market and satisfy Japan's internal demand for EV batteries.

By the conclusion of March 2026, the experimental project will commence with the extraction of 2,500 tons of mineral resources per day by a team of researchers, which includes the University of Tokyo and the non-profit Nippon Foundation.

Additionally, the Nippon Foundation intends to establish a consortium to commercialize production in Japan by 2026.

The team has determined that the mineral deposits are sufficient for commercial purposes, which include the expenses associated with extraction and refining.

According to the NIKKEI Asia report, Yasuhiro Kato, a professor at the University of Tokyo and a team member who made the 2016 discovery, stated that the nodules are "concentrated and provide quite good materials."

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