Kyocera announced that it will construct a new smelting facility to recycle tungsten, a rare metal used as a raw material for cemented carbide tools, from used tools. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in fiscal year 2030. This is in response to the tight supply and demand for tungsten caused by China's export restrictions. Kyocera will install new smelting equipment at its factory in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The project will be funded by a grant of approximately 3 billion yen from the METI. The new equipment will recycle tungsten carbide from used cemented carbide tools. This will be Kyocera's first Tungsten recycling plant. Kyocera is using its unique recycling technology, the "amino acid shortening method," which utilizes naturally derived amino acids, to improve the efficiency of regeneration. In February 2013, China imposed export restrictions on five types of rare metals, including tungsten. Imports of three related items subject to the export restrictions, including the raw material "tungstate," in August 2014 fell by 90% compared to August 2012, before the restrictions were put in place. In response to procurement difficulties, Mitsubishi Materials has begun full-scale imports of tungsten, including recycled tungsten made from scrap cemented carbide tools, from Vietnam. It is also investing approximately 17 billion yen in its European and Japanese factories to increase its tungsten recycling capacity. Sumitomo Electric Industries is also strengthening its recycling system, including building a new factory to produce tungsten powder at a cost of approximately 15.9 billion yen.