Japan aims to reduce rare earth metal dependency

The Japanese government wants to reduce its reliance on the rare earth metal supplies from China.

According to business daily The Nikkei, the government and private sector plans to invest Y110billion in reducing its dependency with Japan currently importing 90 per cent of its rare earth metals from China.

Its first step sees the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry select 160 projects by 110 companies to diversify the procurement sources. It plans to boost subsidies further and solicit more companies and projects to apply for them.

The projects will be spread over several categories including reducing rare-earth metal use, boosting recycling, and testing parts made by non-Chinese rare earths.

To assess the performance changes, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, as well as other manufacturers, plan to set up testing facilities.

About Paul Lucas

Paul is a freelance writer with a background in everything from motoring to finance; and holidays to women's undergarments he just writes about them, honestly! He has now sadly crept into his early 30s and seems to have forgotten everything learned at school Still, he's a green car fanatic and isn't that what counts?

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