AMPO TECHNOLOGY REACHES 6,000-METER DEPTH IN JAPAN’S GROUNDBREAKING RARE EARTH EXTRACTION TRIAL

AMPO POYAM VALVES has successfully designed and supplied highly engineered and innovative subsea valve solutions for Japan’s latest deep‑sea rare earth extraction initiative—an ambitious project now making global headlines for operating at nearly 6,000 meters below sea level. The system, integrated into a Strategic Innovation Program (SIP) module developed by NuStar Technologies for JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), has passed its qualification tests at full operational depth, marking a major milestone in deep-sea mining technology. The Japan Agency for Marine‑Earth Science and Technology has highlighted this test as a world first at such depths.

Over the past years, AMPO has collaborated closely with NuStar and JAMSTEC in developing the valves for the mining system that will descend to 6,000 meters, supporting the country’s strategic drive for critical minerals. As part of this partnership, AMPO POYAM VALVES designed and manufactured the specialized valves that are currently part of the subsea pumping station and two years after delivery, AMPO also performed a full refurbishment of the valves, bringing them back to Spain to replace the trim and requalify the entire units before the final 6,000-meter trials. Earlier development phases successfully reached 4,400 meters, and the final test campaign—recently completed at 6,000 meters—achieved highly positive results. Following this success, Japan has announced that production is expected to begin in 2027.

The module—now deployed in Japan’s pioneering deep‑sea retrieval mission—incorporates three AMPO POYAM valves, engineered specifically to withstand extreme pressure, corrosive environments, and continuous heavy‑duty operation under ultradeep‑water conditions.

Technical Advisory and Unique Hybrid Design Approach

Beyond manufacturing, AMPO played a strategic role in shaping the technical direction of the project. AMPO POYAM VALVES was the company that proposed to NuStar the adoption of a hybrid mining–subsea design, an innovative concept that successfully fit the needs of both industries. AMPO was the only supplier to put forward this hybrid approach—a differentiating factor that helped solve challenges others could not address and one of the key reasons why the customer chose AMPO.

A Breakthrough Project at the Frontier of Deep-Sea Mining

Japan has conducted the first-ever test retrieval of rare‑earth‑rich sediment from around 6,000 meters deep, near Minami-Torishima Island in the Pacific Ocean. According to multiple international reports, the deep‑sea scientific drilling vessel Chikyu successfully gathered sediment from this unprecedented depth – a milestone celebrated by Japan’s government as a strategic step toward building domestic supply chains for critical minerals. These minerals are essential for pressure-controlled systems that support electric mobility, renewable energy technologies, and advanced electronics.

Japan’s trials have been designed to lift seabed mud from 6,000 meters, marking a technological first for the mining sector. The initial phase focuses on validating the performance of key equipment—including pressure‑resistant modules like the one equipped with AMPO POYAM valves—before Japan proceeds to larger‑scale operations.

AMPO POYAM VALVES Supporting Next‑Generation Extraction Technology

The three 6” 600 lbs AMPO POYAM floating metal seated severe service valves integrated into the SIP module are playing a critical role in ensuring safe and reliable fluid handling throughout the ultradeep‑water extraction process. These valves have been engineered to:

• Operate reliably under pressures exceeding 600 bar, equivalent to conditions at 6,000 meters.
• Maintain material integrity in highly corrosive deep‑ocean environments.
• Support continuous extraction, separation, and pressure‑control functions essential to rare‑earth mud recovery systems.

Their successful performance during 6,000‑meter qualification trials reinforces AMPO’s position as a key technological partner in one of the most significant mineral extraction innovations of the decade. Whether in subsea developments operating at extreme depths or in the mining sector facing the most corrosive conditions, AMPO POYAM VALVES consistently designs and manufactures valves capable of meeting the toughest engineering challenges. Our participation in this ultradeep‑sea project underscores the depth of our expertise and our ability to support the most critical applications across both industries.