Critical Minerals Subsidy Program
This programme, overseen by JOGMEC, aims to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals designated as specific important materials under the Economic Security Promotion Act and carried out in accordance with the Policy on Measures to Secure a Stable Supply of Critical Minerals.
Grant Coverage: Up to 50% of the applicant's share of costs for approved supply assurance projects.
Target Minerals: Includes 36 metal minerals, with immediate focus on: a) Lithium-ion battery materials: Manganese, Nickel, Cobalt, Lithium, and Graphite b) Permanent magnet materials: Rare earth elements c) Semiconductor materials: Gallium and Germanium d) Nuclear energy material: Uranium (for refining projects only)
Eligible Projects:
- Exploration and Feasibility Studies
- Mine Development
- Smelting and Refining
- Technology Development
Project Requirements include:
- Ability to acquire mining rights
- Ensure a certain quantity of production is supplied to Japan, contributing to supply chain diversification and resilience
- Projects where grant support is more effective than existing JOGMEC financing due to special circumstances (e.g., environmental measures, human rights issues)
- For technology development, projects with potential for concrete results in efficiency improvement or cost reduction in actual production processes
Two recycling projects have been subsidised under this grant programme:
- Mitsubishi Materials Corporation:
- Demonstration at a pilot plant recovering and purifying nickel, cobalt, and lithium from black mass produced in the lithium-ion battery recycling process.
- Grant Amount: Approximately 1.1 billion yen
- Japan Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.:
- Demonstration at a pilot plant recovering and purifying nickel, cobalt, and lithium from black mass produced in the lithium-ion battery recycling process.
- Grant Amount: Approximately 1.5 billion yen
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