In a discovery that’s got economists giddy and environmentalists reeling, Japan has found something very special deep under the Pacific Ocean.
Scientists have uncovered a seabed covered with nodules near Minami-Tori-shima Island worth a staggering $26.29 billion. But while the find promises to turbocharge Japan’s economy for the next decade, critics warn it could sink marine biodiversity into uncharted waters of destruction.
The seabed is 5,700 metres down, glistening with manganese nodules – millions of years in the making – packed with cobalt, nickel, copper, and more. A survey by The Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo revealed the underwater treasure trove, located some 1,200 miles from Tokyo.
https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/11/20/japans-26bn-discovery/