First Sweden. Now Norway.
In just a matter of weeks, major discoveries of rare and critical metals in the Nordic region have reignited hopes that Europe could loosen Beijing’s grip on essential raw materials, The Local reports.
Now, Norway says its largest known rare earth deposit is almost twice as big as previously believed.
A giant grows larger
At Fensfeltet in southern Norway, new estimates show reserves of 15.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxides – an increase of around 80 percent compared to earlier calculations.
The deposit, located about 150 kilometres southwest of Oslo, is considered the largest documented rare earth resource in Europe.
The revision strengthens Norway’s potential role in supplying critical materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones and defence systems.
Europe currently relies heavily on China for rare earth processing and supply.
Nordic raw materials
The new Norwegian figures come days after Sweden announced significant findings of rare and critical metals on its territory.
Together, the two developments position the Nordic region as a possible strategic pillar in the European Union’s push to secure access to critical raw materials.
Rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium are crucial for producing permanent magnets used in green energy technologies and electric vehicles.
Norway’s deposit is also said to contain niobium and thorium, which could become valuable by-products.
Environmental concers
The Norwegian company Rare Earths Norway says the updated estimate makes the project even more strategically important for both Norway and the EU.
But extraction is far from guaranteed.
Environmental concerns remain a hurdle. Mining projects in Scandinavia often face strong local opposition and strict regulatory scrutiny.
The updated estimate strengthens Norway’s position in Europe’s discussions on access to critical raw materials.
However, the project still requires environmental approvals before any extraction can begin.
For now, the new figures add to a broader Nordic presence in the debate over how Europe can secure future supplies of rare and critical metals.
