Toyota Motor Corporation’s group company, Toyota Tsusho Corp. will build a rare-earth processing plant in India to secure mineral supplies from 2012.
The plant, to be based in Orissa, will provide 3,000-4,000 tonnes of rare-earth minerals in a year that will be used to produce hybrid and electric cars, and other high-tech products. Construction of the plant will begin next year and the minerals will be shipped to Japan starting 2012.
Japan’s leading auto manufacturers are scrambling to secure supplies of the metals after exports from leading producer China were stopped amid political tensions. The plant in India will manufacture rare-earth products of the process of extracting uranium and thorium fuel from monazite minerals at Indian Rare Earth Ltd – a subsidiary of India’s atomic energy agency. Japan’s Shin-Etsu Chemical Company will provide technical assistance.
Toyota Tsusho had surveyed the rare earth resource potential throughout the world and is also developing the minerals in Vietnam. With the two plants, the company will be able to supply around 10,000 tonnes of rare-earths a year in 2013.
The plant, to be based in Orissa, will provide 3,000-4,000 tonnes of rare-earth minerals in a year that will be used to produce hybrid and electric cars, and other high-tech products. Construction of the plant will begin next year and the minerals will be shipped to Japan starting 2012.
Japan’s leading auto manufacturers are scrambling to secure supplies of the metals after exports from leading producer China were stopped amid political tensions. The plant in India will manufacture rare-earth products of the process of extracting uranium and thorium fuel from monazite minerals at Indian Rare Earth Ltd – a subsidiary of India’s atomic energy agency. Japan’s Shin-Etsu Chemical Company will provide technical assistance.
Toyota Tsusho had surveyed the rare earth resource potential throughout the world and is also developing the minerals in Vietnam. With the two plants, the company will be able to supply around 10,000 tonnes of rare-earths a year in 2013.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
