The case summarized the Fens field in Telemark, which is Europe’s largest known occurrence of rare soils (REE) for green technology, was discussed during a summit in the White House. Rare soils are essential for, among other things, mobile phones, batteries and defense materials, and are also crucial for many high -tech products in the military context. Jens Stoltenberg confirms that there is no danger that US President Donald Trump will buy Telemark, but emphasizes the importance of developing his own minerals and rare soils. Kåre Dahl Martinsen, professor of European security policy, believes the conversation about the Fens field does not necessarily have much significance without specific plans for financing and recovery. The government is considering whether a state mineral company should be established or establish a fund to develop activity in Norway. The company Rare Earths Norway (REN) currently has recovery rights of around 90 percent of the field, while Ree Minerals has the last ten percent. The summary is made by a Ki service from Openai. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publishing. At the small village of Fen, there is little today to testify to international big politics at the first island throw. Admittedly, a slightly rattled building fence has been erected, locked with a simple padlock around the entrance to the old village school. It may look a bit gray on the outside, but the old school building on Fen hides samples of rare soils. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news Otherwise, most of it is before. Inside the old classrooms, however, there are boxes of samples that say something about why this area is suddenly discussed around the meeting table in the oval office. Talked about rare soils at Ulefoss on Thursday, April 24, US President Donald Trump, among other things, opposed Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg in Washington. Støre and Trump exchanged compliments when they met in the White House. Customs, trade and Ukraine were important topics at the meeting. Less known is that the Fens field at Lille Ulefoss in Telemark became a topic of conversation in the White House. There you will find Europe’s largest known occurrence of REE for green technology. The rare soils are essential for, among other things, mobile phones, batteries and defense materials. Stoltenberg believes the unique field emphasizes that Norway is also important for the United States. – We had the opportunity to talk about this in the White House, and were among the things I feel we were heard for among the Norwegian views, says Stoltenberg to news. Customs became central to the conversation about the rare soils. – We emphasized the importance of developing the field, and not imposing customs and other obstacles to being able to sell and trade with this type of rare soil, says the finance minister. Jens Stoltenberg photographed on May 1 before he spoke in Porsgrunn. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Stoltenberg, who himself was Secretary General of NATO from 2014 to 2024, says rare soils are also crucial for many high -tech products in the military context. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Defense -among others in modern fighter aircraft such as F -35. It is a security risk if we unilaterally depend on this from, for example, China. – That is why it is important that we develop our own minerals and rare soils, and the Fens field is so far the largest detected occurrence in Europe. It is important for Norway, it is important for Telemark, but also important for our safety and NATO, he says. Fens field at Ulefoss in Telemark. Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes / news After Trump took the presidential chair for the second time, he has signaled interest in various lands around the world. Including Greenland. Stoltenberg still believes that the lands at Ulefoss are not yet on the president’s wish list. – Is there a danger that Trump will buy Telemark? – There is no danger to it. But it is important that you realize that you cannot make trade barriers in these types of goods, says Stoltenberg. – We have to trade with them, because everyone has benefits of the kind of occurrences found here in Telemark. Little significance Currently Kåre Dahl Martinsen, professor of European security policy at the Defense College, is unsure whether a conversation with the US president about the Fens field is really important. Kåre Dahl Martinsen, professor of European security policy at the Defense College Photo: Gunnar Sætra / news – What then? It’s nice that we tell Trump that we have this field, but we need some specific plans. Not least with regard to the financing, and how we should pay the recovery of this here, he says. – It takes a lot of years from the time you have mapped a discovery until production starts. That period requires a solid financial back cover for investors. That back cover is only the state that can provide, the expert believes. The Labor Party could have secured a state majority for a state mineral company in the Fens field, but recently voted voted no when a proposal from Red recently was processed in the Storting. Minister of Energy Terje Aasland (Ap) still keeps the door glowing. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / news The government is still considering whether a state mineral company should be established or whether they will create a fund. “Or something else that can help develop the activity we want to develop in Norway,” he told news during the Fensdagene at Ulefoss in April. Important reputation building The company Rare Earths Norway (REN) currently has recovery rights of around 90 percent of the field, while Ree Minerals has the last ten percent. The chairman of the latter company, Johannes Nævdal, believes it is important that the Fens field was discussed in a meeting with Trump. Chairman Ree Minerals, Johannes Nævdal. Photo: Ree Minerals – All recognition of the resource and its importance has something to say for the process. In that sense, this is positive for us, he tells news. However, Nævdal wishes them to become more involved. – I have not heard anything from the Minister of Finance or any of those present during the meeting. Published 10.05.2025, at. 15.56
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