Overview of critical metals and minerals In Norway

Abstract

This report is an English version of NGU report 2023.021, with updated information, where this is available, is included. Every three years since 2011, the European Commission has assessed the supply risk and economic importance of raw materials required for the operation and development of industry in Europe. The results are presented in lists of "critical raw materials," which include the minerals and metals that have the highest supply risk and greatest importance for the European economy. In 2023, the European Commission also introduced the term "strategic raw materials" based on expected future production and demand. The EU's lists of critical and strategic raw materials for 2023 encompass 34 minerals and metals and form the basis for the review presented in this report. Norway has a primary production of critical raw materials and a very important downstream production of critical metals, partly based on Norwegian mineral production. The potential for further Norwegian primary production is significant, but an extensive geological dataset is necessary to clarify the opportunities and facilitate targeted industrial exploration. Chemical data from known mineral registrations constitute an important knowledge base for assessing the potential for critical and strategic metals and minerals in Norway. In this report, chemical analyses of metal and mineral registrations (including deposits) in NGU's mineral resource databases are compiled and presented in maps as a tool for better understanding the Norwegian potential for critical raw materials. The foundation for this compilation is more than 9,000 analyses from more than 2,100 surveyed registrations of metals and minerals. The report is part of NGU's mission related to the government's 2023 mineral strategy for making data accessible and facilitating exploration for the industry and the public.