Minerals are important. Not just those that the body must have: Mobile phones, electric batteries, computers – all the electrical gadgets we use every day are completely dependent on minerals. And they will become more important. Digitization and the green shift require large quantities of so-called critical minerals: The need could increase sevenfold by 2050. In addition, Russia and China account for much of this production. Then it is fitting that Norway has a lot of rock, or ore, with these minerals. We also have extensive experience with mining. This is precisely why more people are working to give life to old mines. The goal is for Norway to become an important player in the mineral industry. The only problem is that the process takes a very long time. A new industrial revolution is on the way. In Sulitjelma, or Sulis, on the Swedish border east of Bodø, mining has been the economic backbone of the people who live here. Photo: Sverre Pettersen 11 years and counting In 2011, the company Nye Sulitjelma Gruver AS (NSG) saw the light of day. After operations were closed in 1991, they are now one of several new Norwegian players on the mining market. Here, most things are in place, according to the general manager: Everything from a good atmosphere with the reindeer herding to political support and physical infrastructure. But after 11 years, they are still waiting for the go-ahead to start extraction at all. Nye Sulitjelma Gruver (NSG) took over the baton for Sulitjelma Minerals, which had already been running the same process for seven years. So far it has taken 18 years. Størker Bjørnstad is general manager of Nye Sulitjelma Gruver (NSG), and has worked for new mining for 11 years. Photo: Einar Breivik / news Will make Norway the world’s most sustainable mineral industry This is not something they have just come up with in the small mountain village. This is strategy from the top. The EU will become more self-sufficient in so-called critical minerals in a more unstable world. That is why the Government has a mineral strategy. The goal is for Norway to become the world’s most sustainable mineral industry. Moreover, new jobs are good news in a county struggling with evictions and a municipality with financial challenges. But even if this is a wish from the top, the problem of long case processing times is also known in the state apparatus. Nordland County Council therefore made the Sulis project a pilot project precisely to prioritize resources to shorten the processing time. – I spoke to the Minister of Business and Industry at the latest a few weeks ago. I believe that we have contributed to ministries and directorates talking to each other. This is what the county councilor for Planning and Industry in Nordland, Linda Helén Haukland (KrF) tells news. County councilor Linda Helén Haukland wants faster clarification on whether they can start mining in Sulis or not. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news I think the laws should be processed at the same time, not one after the other But why is it taking so long, you might ask? Well, it is, among other things (and roughly explained) that: Mining is no longer common in Norway. The processes are not as incorporated as for the industry we already have. The political will for new mining has long been so-so due to mining’s history with, among other things, pollution. Several laws are to be processed. – Now these laws are processed one and one after the other. But we have asked that the laws be processed at the same time, says Haukland. It can supposedly halve the treatment time. This is confirmed by Høyre’s parliamentary representative, Bård Ludvig Thorheim. The right-wing parliamentary representative from Nordland, Bård Ludvig Thorheim, has long worked for new mining in Norway. Photo: Benjamin Fredriksen / news This is why it takes so long to start mining in Norway: First, you have to find the ore in the mountains. It must then be proven that it is profitable to withdraw. The process of obtaining an extraction permit with regulatory plan and impact assessment then begins. There are mainly three laws that must be taken into account: the Planning and Building Act, the Pollution Act and the Minerals Act. These three laws are being considered one after the other today. Several people speak up for the fact that they should be able to be treated at the same time. The Norwegian Environment Agency must approve the discharge permit. In Sulis’s case alone, there were 19 submissions in the consultation round. Therefore, a new consultation round is needed. For example, there is talk of dust and noise assessment. Finally, an operating license must be in place. In addition, any infrastructure must be built. Sources: Bjørnstad, general manager at Nye Sulitjelma Gruver, Rune Reisænen, unit manager for Planning and development in Fauske municipality, Nordland County Municipality – Not the time to be dependent on Russia and China Europe today consumes approx. 20 percent of the world’s minerals. At the same time, we produce approximately only 3 percent ourselves. This, among other things, according to the EU and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU). – It is very urgent to speed up the proceedings. We need large mineral resources for batteries and offshore wind turbines, says Thorheim to news. – This is not the time to be dependent on Russia and China, where most of the minerals come from. He also proposes that the laws be dealt with simultaneously, and not one after the other. Apparently it’s called a fast lane. – In Canada, they have introduced this with good results, says Thorheim. Do you think Norway should extract minerals? ⚒️ Yes, Norway should become a sustainable supplier of this. No, it is far too harmful for the environment. Don’t know, don’t know enough about the matter. Show result – Scares investors away The CEO of Nye Sulitjelma Gruver, Størker Bjørnstad, is not satisfied that it is taking so long. – It scares away investors. It is a huge expenditure of money to start up mining, says Bjørnstad to news. He estimates that 30–40 million has been spent on the project so far. A project that is still not guaranteed to start. – People in the village wonder if we are still working on the case. But I can guarantee them that we do. Sulis has been mining for a long time. At the beginning of the 20th century, this was Norway’s second largest workplace. But working conditions were poor and led to one of the country’s most famous strikes. That’s what blockbuster movies are now being made about. Right now they are waiting for a response from the Norwegian Environment Agency. They have been doing that for a year and a half. NSG has applied for permission to discharge 30,000 tonnes of copper and zinc concentrate per year, which will be dumped in Langvatnet directly outside the mines. That’s one of the main reasons why it all takes so long: the environment. Mining is not without controversy. There have been several demonstrations against mining in Norway, including in Førdefjorden and Reppafjorden. Managing director Størker Bjørnstad says they have now come to terms with the fact that this will take a long time, precisely because there is a lot that needs to be taken into account. – But the motivation is still at its best, he says. The Environment Agency is working on the case Kari Kjønigsen, deputy head of the industry section in the Environment Agency, writes this in an e-mail to news: “It is true that we have an application from Nye Sulitjelma Gruver AS for consideration. The application requires, among other things, assessments of the effects new mining will have on the water bodies in the area, possibilities for minimizing tailings and how any new operation will affect the need for clean-up of former mining operations. It is difficult to estimate how long it will take to process the application as this is one of several demanding cases we have to process.” New Minerals Act out for consultation Although things are going slowly, things are still happening: Right now a new Minerals Act is out for consultation. In Fauske municipality, they are working on a new consultation note for Sulis after all the input in the previous round. They expect to have it ready within a week or two. Recently, Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) opened for state mining in Dalane in Rogaland, according to Stavanger Aftenblad. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has received the inquiry from news, but has not yet had the opportunity to comment on the matter. Read more about mining history in Sulis:
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– Not the time to be dependent on Russia – news Nordland
