Norway is strengthening its role in Europe’s critical raw materials system through a government-backed assessment showing that the country’s strategic value lies primarily in processing, refining and advanced materials production rather than upstream geology.
The analysis was prepared by Prosess21 and the Research Council of Norway for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, providing the first comprehensive mapping of Norwegian participation in critical and strategic raw material value chains. It outlines 7 geological deposits, 5 active mining operations and 17 process-industry companies involved in critical raw materials production, inputs or substitution technologies. Annual Norwegian exports of critical raw materials are estimated at around NOK 100 billion (approximately €9 billion), with most shipments directed to European industrial customers.
Processing industries anchor export and value creation
The report highlights Norway’s strongest positions in aluminium, nickel, zinc, silicon, ferrosilicon, cobalt, titanium feedstocks, graphite, feldspar-related minerals and high-purity quartz. These outputs are underpinned by hydropower-based energy supply, established metallurgical capacity and integration with European downstream industries.
The findings position Norway as a processing hub embedded within European supply chains rather than a purely upstream raw materials supplier.
Aluminium sector dominates critical materials exports
Aluminium represents more than half of Norway’s critical raw material export value, supported by major production assets operated by Norsk Hydro and Alcoa Norway.
Norway accounts for approximately 40% of European primary aluminium production capacity, with Hydro producing around 1.2 million tonnes per year out of national output of roughly 1.4 million tonnes, the majority of which is supplied to European markets. Hydro’s Vigeland Brug facility also produces ultra-high-purity aluminium exceeding 99.999% purity, used in electronics, semiconductors and advanced energy systems.
Alcoa Norway operates production facilities in Mosjøen and Lista, contributing about 300,000 tonnes per year of low-carbon primary aluminium, with potential efficiency gains of 10–20% under stable energy and regulatory conditions. Aluminium applications span power infrastructure, transport systems, defence and aerospace sectors.
Nickel and cobalt refining capacity concentrated in Kristiansand
The Glencore Nikkelverk refinery in Kristiansand is identified as a key strategic processing asset, producing high-purity nickel, cobalt, copper and platinum group metals. The facility holds approximately 9% of the global high-purity nickel market and accounts for around 50% of European cobalt production capacity and 56% of European nickel capacity in relevant product categories.
The report notes planned investment requirements of NOK 4–8 billion to expand feedstock flexibility, recycling integration and refining capacity. This expansion could increase output by 20,000–50,000 tonnes, but depends on energy costs, carbon pricing conditions, feedstock availability and financing structures.
Silicon and ferroalloy production linked to European industrial supply chains
Norwegian companies including Elkem, Wacker Chemicals Norway and Finnfjord supply silicon and ferroalloys used in solar energy systems, semiconductors, power electronics, wind energy and battery-related applications. Wacker’s Holla facility has installed capacity of approximately 80,000 tonnes per year of metallurgical silicon and around 40,000 tonnes per year of micro silica. Output is integrated into downstream German operations producing materials for solar cells, semiconductors and specialty chemicals. These operations form part of Europe’s wider low-carbon materials manufacturing base.
Mining and mineral production base across industrial metals
The report identifies Rana Gruber as a major iron ore producer, with annual crude ore output of around 5 million tonnes, processed into approximately 1.8 million tonnes of iron oxide concentrate. While iron ore is not formally classified as a critical raw material under EU definitions, it is treated as system-critical for steel production in energy, transport, construction and defence sectors.
In copper, the Nussir project in Finnmark—now operated by Blue Moon Metals following its 2025 acquisition of Nussir ASA—is highlighted as a strategic development. The project reports a resource of approximately 60.7 million tonnes of ore grading 1% copper, 13 g/t silver and 0.13 g/t gold, with planned annual ore production of around 2 million tonnes and first production targeted for Q3 2027. It has also been designated a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act framework. Additional copper and zinc projects include Sulitjelma, with approximately 17 million tonnes of ore at 1.06% copper, and Joma, with about 7.2 million tonnes at 1.03% copper, indicating potential redevelopment of historic mining districts.
Rare earths position Norway in European supply security agenda
The Fen field near Ulefoss in Telemark is identified as Europe’s largest documented rare earth element deposit. Rare Earths Norway controls approximately 90% of the licence area and reports a resource of 1,206 million tonnes of ore at 1.31% TREO, with neodymium and praseodymium accounting for roughly 17–19% of total rare earth content.
Including additional resources reported by Saga Rare Earths, total rare earth oxide resources are estimated at just under 17 million tonnes. In April 2026, spatial planning authority for Fen was transferred from municipal to national level, reflecting its classification as a strategic industrial and security asset due to its importance in permanent magnets, electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defence systems.
Phosphate, titanium and vanadium project development in Rogaland
The Helleland project in Rogaland, operated by Norge Mineraler, targets phosphate, titanium and vanadium production within the Bjerkreim–Sokndal intrusion.
The company reports approximately 4.5 billion tonnes of mineralised rock, with a proposed first-phase development based on 20 million tonnes of ore per year. The Storeknuten deposit contains around 200 million tonnes grading approximately 3.5% P₂O₅, alongside titanium minerals and vanadium-bearing magnetite.
Industrial minerals and specialty materials production
In Finnmark, Sibelco’s Stjernøy operation produces nepheline syenite, a feldspar substitute classified as a critical material under EU frameworks. Annual production ranges between 250,000 and 320,000 tonnes, with approximately 98% exported to European markets.
The material is used in glass, ceramics, coatings and plastics, with applications in solar glass, insulation and electrical infrastructure. Norway also hosts Skaland Graphite, a key European natural graphite producer, and Titania, which operates the Tellnes mine in Rogaland, processing around 2 million tonnes of ore annually containing titanium-bearing material.
Battery materials and substitution technologies
Emerging Norwegian companies are developing advanced battery material technologies. Vianode is scaling synthetic graphite production for battery anodes, while Cenate is developing silicon-based nanocomposite materials designed to reduce graphite dependence.
Cenate’s technology enables substitution of approximately 5–7 kg of graphite with 1 kg of silicon-based composite, increasing battery energy density while reducing raw material intensity.
Energy dependence and industrial competitiveness constraints
The report identifies electricity supply as a core competitiveness factor for Norway’s processing industry. Aluminium smelting, nickel refining, silicon production and mineral processing are all dependent on stable, low-cost hydropower.
Key constraints include permitting timelines, land-use conflicts, capital access, grid capacity, power price stability, market access and regulatory frameworks.
Strategic positioning within European supply chains
Norway’s industrial system is described as deeply integrated into European value chains, with upstream feedstock often imported from countries including Canada, Brazil, Australia, Finland and Guinea before being processed domestically into high-value materials exported primarily to Europe.
The report frames Norway’s role as a combination of geological resources and high-capacity processing infrastructure supported by low-carbon hydropower-based production systems.
Future policy framework and EU alignment studies
Follow-up work from Prosess21 and the Research Council of Norway will include analysis of Norway’s implementation requirements under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act in the context of potential EEA integration, as well as Norway’s role in supplying European, US and allied strategic value chains through to 2030.
