Home > JOGMEC's Activities > Technology Development and Technical Support (Metals) > Exploiting, Smelting and Refining
Technologies for Exploiting, Smelting and Refining
Developing metal resources is becoming more challenging as high-quality resources become harder to find. JOGMEC helps private-sector Japanese companies cope through its research and technical support.
Technical Support for Japanese Companies
The exploitation of nonferrous metal resources has reached a new stage because of several issues impacting the mining industry. Ore quality has been declining, so the mining industry is beginning to exploit low-grade ores and ores with harmful components, such as arsenic, that would not have been viable in the past. Moreover, companies are developing underground mining at sites where large-scale open-pit mining has ended. JOGMEC emphasizes technical support for private-sector Japanese companies that operate mines in foreign countries.
In fiscal 2005, JOGMEC launched a project to develop hydrometallurgical technology using bioleaching and a project to provide technical assistance to meet needs at production sites. In addition, JOGMEC has selected themes for new technological development by researching technology trends for mining, smelting and refining in Japan and abroad, and exchanging information with research institutes in foreign countries.
