A delegation is preparing to visit Greenland this summer to evaluate possible rare earth extraction, the Nikkei newswire reported.
The visit would include officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, trading companies and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security, which would hold talks with local government officials.
Rare earths are used in a range of technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, and defence equipment.
The visit would come as governments seek to secure more diversified supplies of critical minerals.
With limited domestic natural resources, Japan continues to look abroad to secure the critical minerals needed to support high-tech industries and the transition to cleaner energy.
The strategic importance of rare earths has grown significantly in recent years, with governments paying closer attention to the risks associated with the heavy concentration of mining and processing capabilities in only a handful of locations.
The Arctic island of Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Danish kingdom, has been in the spotlight lately.
The White House in January said US President Donald Trump was considering how to acquire the island, setting off alarm bells among Nato allies in Europe. Talks have since been moved to a diplomatic track.
Greenland is of interest because of its strategic location and potentially rich rare earth reserves. — Agencies
