Japan to produce rare earth metals in Kazakhstan

The Japanese electric technical concern Toshiba has invented a technology for the extraction of rare earth elements out of uranium that will be tested in Kazakhstan for the first time, Nikkei reports.

Kazatomprom and the Japanese State Corporation Jogmec that controls the production of natural resources will take part in the project. The technology that will be industrially used from 2012 will allow to receive from the wastes of the uranium ore rare earth elements – neodymium and dysprosium that are used in electromagnets for hybrid cars. Rhenium that is used in the engines of jet planes will be produced in the same way. With the help of electrolysis these elements will be separated from liquid high radioactive wastes that are left after separation of uranium out of the natural ore. For this purpose the specialists of Toshiba have invented electrodes that can interact with rare earth elements.

Earlier this year Japan signed a memorandum with Kazakhstan on development of deposits of rare metals in this country. In conformity with this agreement, the corporation Jogmec and its partner in Kazakhstan – a mining company Tau-Ken Samru will together explore the deposits of rare metal, including wolfram, in the Eastern regions of Kazakhstan. The reserves of this metal reach 10% of the world’s reserves there. Jogmec has been conducting such explorations in the republic since 2007. According to the Japanese experts, the deal aims at shortening the dependence of Japan of purchase of rare metals in China and thus influencing on the level of their prices.

Metalinfo.ru

Translated by Galiya Davletgareeva

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