[citation needed] JOGMEC was established in 2004 pursuant to the 2002 Law Concerning the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation.

[2][3] In March 2013, JOGMEC becomes the first to successfully extract methane hydrate from seabed deposits.

The Japan-Botswana partnership will work together in developing the exploration of minerals through methods such as remote sensing.

[6] JOGMEC carried out the world's first "large-scale" deep sea mining of hydrothermal vent mineral deposits in August – September, 2017.

[7] JOGMEC manages rare metal stockpiles in conjunction with private companies.