Norway accelerates rare earth mining plan for Europe's largest deposit

The Norwegian government has tasked the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries with drafting a plan program for Fensfeltet, Europe's largest rare earth deposit, with a target plan by 2028. This follows a request from Nome municipality to nationalize the planning process, signaling a strategic push to secure critical minerals supply. The move aligns with EU efforts to reduce dependence on China for rare earths, though the timeline remains long and subject to environmental assessments.