New report maps Norway’s role in critical raw materials

“Norwegian industry and the minerals sector already supply inputs that are important for both our own and our allies’ value creation, green transformation, and security. This report gives us an overall picture of where Norwegian companies have strategic importance in critical value chains, and where they have the potential to play an even more important role. It shows that industry plays a key role in security and preparedness, and provides important knowledge for strengthening Norwegian and European competitiveness,” says Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.

The report spans the entire value chain – from geological deposits and mineral extraction to processing, downstream refinement, and circular solutions.

Strong process industry – significant potential

The report was commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and follows up the white paper Industry – Competitiveness for a New Era, presented by the Minister last year. One of the six industrial policy priorities is that industry should support the government’s preparedness and security policy.

A key finding is that Norway’s process industry is strong in the most energy- and capital-intensive and technologically advanced segments, delivering materials with a lower carbon footprint than many alternatives. This applies, among others, to aluminium, ferroalloys, silicon, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and silicon carbide.

“The greatest vulnerabilities in global value chains for critical raw materials lie in processing and refining. This is precisely where Norway can play a key role for European and allied security,” says Håvard Moe, Chair of the Prosess21 Steering Committee and Chief Technology Officer at Elkem.

“At the same time, the report shows that we can further improve the integration of the minerals industry, process industry, and downstream processing, thereby strengthening European value chains for renewable energy, digital technologies, and the defence industry.”

Norway an even more reliable partner

The mapping also shows that Norway has a substantial geological resource base and several relatively mature projects in areas including copper, rare earth elements, graphite, and high-purity quartz. Two projects have already been designated as strategic under the EU’s raw materials framework, and the Fensfeltet deposit in Telemark is Europe’s largest confirmed deposit of rare earth elements.

At the same time, the report emphasizes that the realization of new projects depends on framework conditions, access to capital, social acceptance, and profitability—at a time when critical raw materials are gaining increased geopolitical importance.

Prosess21 and the Research Council of Norway will now follow up with two studies:

• one on Norway’s needs related to the EU Critical Raw Materials Act in light of possible EEA incorporation, and
• one on Norway’s future role as a supplier in strategic value chains for critical raw materials, focusing on vulnerabilities and requirements for quality, volume, and security of supply.

These will form the basis for identifying measures Norway should take towards 2030.

“We will now thoroughly review the findings and recommendations. The report is part of a broader effort to strengthen the role of industry in Norwegian preparedness and security, and to make Norway an even more reliable partner for our allies at a time of rapid shifts in the geopolitical landscape,” said Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.