METI Seeks Higher Budget for Nonferrous Metals in F2010

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry seeks 2.587 billion yen of budget for nonferrous metals division of manufacturing industries bureau for fiscal 2010 starting April 2010, which is 2% higher than fiscal 2009. The budget is total 8.477 billion yen including fine ceramics and nanotechnology strategic office, is 3.7% higher than fiscal 2009. METI tries to secure rare metal and support development of substitute materials for rare metals.

The nonferrous metals division seeks more than 10% higher budget for rare metal substitution materials development for fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. The division tries to secure substitution of tungsten, indium, dysprosium, platinum, cerium and terbium through state of the art technology with potential tight supply from existing sources.

The division also secures budget for demonstration of high temperature superconductor cable for 2010 as same as fiscal 2009. The division tries to realize efficient power supply network through the test for the cable to connect with real power supply network around Tokyo.