Should private companies be allowed to make money from rare strategic minerals in Norway? Or is this such an important industry that the state must take over production? For Raudt, the answer is obvious. – We cannot risk these important minerals ending up in Chinese companies, or other large global companies, says Tobias Drevland Lund as Raudt’s parliamentary representative. Storting representative from Telemark Tobias Drevland Lund (R) does not want to see Norwegian mineral assets disappear to private companies abroad. Photo: Solfrid Leirgul Øverbø / news He is at the forefront of a new proposal that Raudt wants to promote in the Storting. They want to establish a state mining company that will operate any mines on Fen. Today, there is a private company that examines the ground on the Fensfield. – Shouldn’t private companies be allowed to take part in this? – We register that both the municipality and the county council want the state to weigh in, and I take that as a signal that we must get a state-owned company in place, says Lund. The Fens field in Nome municipality houses what is most likely Europe’s largest occurrence of rare earth species. Metal that is decisive for producing the technology of the future. The metals are known as Rare Earth Elements (REE). It is not possible to produce electric cars, mobile phones or defense equipment without these metals. Europe is desperate to become more self-sufficient in this area. Afraid of China Today, China has a virtual monopoly on the production of rare earth species. Nome municipality fears that Chinese interests may try to take over the mining operations on the Fens field. Something they notified the world about at the end of May this year. The mayor of Nome municipality has long asked for help from central authorities. – It is primarily about securing Norwegian ownership, says mayor Bjørg Tveito Lundefaret (Ap). Mayor of Nome municipality Bjørg Tveito Lundefaret (Ap) in front of one of the drilling rigs on the Fens field. Photo: Martin Tortveit / news In addition, Lundefaret hopes that state ownership will bring financial muscle. Because it will be expensive to put mines in place on Fen. Wants private players Lundefaret will not go as far as Raudt. She thinks it would be good if private actors could work together with the state. Nevertheless, he is positive about Raudt’s proposal. – We are happy about all proposals that lift the Fensfield, and hope for a good debate in the Storting, says the mayor. Høgre, on the other hand, are not supporters of a state-owned mineral company. – The state has limited competence in this. One should rather support the actors who are in the process now, says Storting representative Mahmoud Farahmand (H). Mahmoud Farahmand is a parliamentary representative for Høgre from Telemark. Photo: Martin Torstveit / news – But what about the fear of a Chinese takeover? – If safety is a concern, we have legislation that regulates this. The two private mining companies that operate the Fens field today have previously informed news that they need greater financial muscle to reach the goal, but that they want to operate the mines themselves. This week the news came that one company is also one step closer to proving that it is economically profitable to mine on Fen. Waiting for a strategy Minister of Industry Jan Christian Vestre did not want to be interviewed about this matter. But he has previously stated to news that a state mineral company would be unlikely. He wants private investment in the green shift. Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) put in extra money for mineral investment through a revised national budget. But his mineral strategy is not yet in place. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Regarding Raudt’s proposal, State Secretary Anne Marit Bjørnflaten (Ap) replies this in an e-mail: – We will soon present the government’s mineral strategy. Here we will show what measures we propose to deal with the challenges of access to raw materials for Norway, to facilitate increased extraction of critical raw materials in Norway, and how we will work to ensure robust value chains. The mineral strategy was announced before Christmas, but has not yet come into place. news learns that the strategy will be presented on Wednesday this week. Have expectations The Labor party mayor in Nome is impatient and wants to see action from his own government. – I want the state to be more involved, and I have expectations for that, says Lundefaret. The municipality will now start finding land that can be used for a factory and landfill at Fen. Those who live in the village are excited about what the future will bring:
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Wants a state-owned mineral company on the Fens field – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
