Norway’s government has stepped in to take over planning for the Fen rare earth deposit, aiming to accelerate development after a major resource upgrade nearly doubled its estimated size. Officials announced Wednesday that the move is intended to prevent delays and ensure the project advances in line with national and European strategic interests.
The Fen deposit located in Telemark, southern Norway was recently assessed to contain 15.9 million metric tons of rare earth oxide, an 81 percent increase from the 2024 estimate, according to the project’s developer. The upgrade cements Fen as Europe’s largest rare earth resource, a critical advantage for a region seeking to reduce its dependence on China, the dominant global supplier.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the deposit could play a transformative role in strengthening Europe’s supply security. “The Fen field could be of major significance for Telemark, Norway and Europe’s supply security and competitiveness,” he said, stressing the need to boost production of critical minerals both domestically and among allied nations.
Around 19 percent of the deposit consists of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) essential materials used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defence technologies. Demand for these minerals is expected to surge as Europe accelerates its clean‑energy transition.
The government said it assumed control at the request of local authorities, citing the risk of land‑use conflicts and the need to balance environmental, industrial and national‑interest considerations. By centralising planning, officials hope to streamline approvals and avoid delays that have slowed other European mining projects.
With Europe still lacking a single operating rare earth mine, the rapid development of Fen is seen as a strategic priority one that could reshape the continent’s mineral independence for decades.
+ There are no comments
Add yours