Rare marine exploitation by robots

Japan will use robots to exploit rare earth and precious metals in the ocean floor within the next decade.

One ore contains rare earths on the ocean floor.(Photo: Popular Science)

Japan National Oil, Gas and Metal Corporation (JOGMEC) is designing remote control robots capable of exploiting resources up to 2,000 meters deep, reported the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper .

JOGMEC project will focus on volcanic undersea , where minerals are blown out of the ridge. The project will be invested about 30 billion yen (360 million USD) and implemented within 10 years.

Experts believe that underwater mines will help Japan in the context that minerals are becoming scarce worldwide and China restricts exports of rare earths. Of course, exploiting resources at the bottom of the sea and putting them on the surface is not easy.

Japan is one of the most imported industrial materials in the world. However, scientists estimate that Japan's underwater resources are worth up to 200 trillion yen. Like many high-tech countries in Asia, Japan is making every effort to ensure the supply of rare earths and precious metals for the production of high-tech products - such as cars. use both electricity and gasoline, mobile phones, liquid crystal TV.

Japanese experts insist that the ocean floor can provide a large amount of precious metals such as silver and gold. Even humans can exploit methane hydrate - also known as burning ice.The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has predicted that methane hydrate gas could be the most economically efficient source of energy to replace the depleted fossil fuel in the context of energy demand. Global far exceeds supply in the near future.