Relevance for UPSC: GS Paper III (Resources, Environment, Strategic Minerals)
Source: Indian Express; Government of Japan; international media reports

Context

Japan plans to conduct a test extraction of rare-earth-rich seabed mud from a depth of about 6,000 metres near Minamitori Island, located within its Exclusive Economic Zone. This will be the world’s first continuous deep-sea lifting test of rare-earth mud at such depth.

Core Concepts

• Rare Earth Elements: A group of 17 metallic elements (such as neodymium, dysprosium and yttrium) essential for modern technology.
• Uses:
  • Clean energy – wind turbines, electric vehicle motors
  • Electronics – smartphones, semiconductors
  • Defence – precision-guided missiles, radars
• Despite the name, rare earths are geologically abundant but difficult and costly to extract and process.

Key Features

• Objective: Reduce dependence on China-dominated rare-earth supply chains.
• Technology: System capable of lifting about 350 tonnes of seabed mud per day.
• Legal basis: Mining within the Exclusive Economic Zone is permitted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Q. With reference to rare earth elements, consider the following statements:

1. They are essential for renewable energy technologies and defence systems.
2. Coastal states can mine seabed resources within their Exclusive Economic Zone.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?