Research and Development Project of Manganese Nodule Mining System in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Japan, started the large-Scale Project entitled, The Research and Development Project of Manganese Nodule Mining System in FY1981. The Project is scheduled to last until FY1989 with a total budget of about 20 billion Japanese Yen (about $85 million, U.S.). The mining system being researched and developed in the Project is a hydraulic mining system in which manganese nodules are collected a towed vehicle on the sea floor and are transported in a slurry of seawater and nodules through the lift system onto the mining ship. In the Project, R&D of technology has been conducted to complete a highly effective, reliable and well-coordinated ocean mining system; furthermore the commercial feasibility has been evaluated. In the last stage of the Project, a pilot scale mining test is scheduled in the Pacific Ocean. INTRODUCTION Manganese nodules, which contain significant quantities of copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese, are considered to be an important future source of minerals which are crucial to Japanese industrial and national security interests. In other words, it is absolutely important for Japan to recover manganese nodules from the deep ocean floor since it will ensure a stable supply of four strategic metals as "quasi-domestic" sources for Japan, where these metals are in short supply and must be imported. Entirely new technology, however, is required for recovering the nodules from the deep ocean floor. In addition, according to the new Law of the Sea Treaty adopted at the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1982, those who would develop deep ocean manganese nodules would have to possess their own mining technology and would be required to transfer it to the international organization, or the Enterprise. Under such circumstances, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) selected the Research and Development Project of Manganese Nodule Mining System as one of the National Research and Development Programs in FY1981. The Project is scheduled to last until FY1989 with a total budget of about 20 billion Yen (approx. $85 million, U.S.). NATIONAL R&D PROGRAM The National Research and Development Program (popularly known as the Large-Scale Project) has been conducted by the AIST since 1966. This is-a program for urgent, expensive, risky and long-term projects which it would be difficult for private firms to undertake alone. The AIST promotes such important projects as mentioned above under contract with industry. Promotion of such technological development by the government will not only increase the sophistication and knowledge-intensiveness of the Japanese industrial structure, but will also help to expand the world's technological frontier, to revitalize the entire world economy and to contribute to international community.