WILLAGRI
Norwegian mining company Norge Mining has announced that it has discovered a colossal deposit of phosphate rock in southwestern Norway. The scale of this deposit would be staggering. Estimates suggest that it contains about 70 billion tons of phosphate. Known global reserves were estimated in 2021 at 71 billion tons. This discovery could potentially meet the global demand for batteries, solar panels and fertilizers for the next 50 to 100 years. It also contains other critical minerals such as vanadium and titanium, which reinforces its strategic importance for the European Union. Will this discovery reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign suppliers in the field of strategic raw materials for the energy transition and food? Many, however, express environmental concerns related to phosphate mining and processing. Will Norway become a major player in the phosphate and fertilizer market?
