Norway moves to centralise planning for Fen rare earth project to speed Europe’s critical minerals push

Norway’s government has moved to take control of planning for the Fen rare earth project, a step designed to speed up development of what is described as Europe’s largest known deposit of critical minerals. The decision comes shortly after a major resource upgrade by developer Rare Earths Norway, raising the project’s strategic weight for European supply security.

Resource upgrade raises the stakes

Last month, Rare Earths Norway increased estimated resources at Fen to 15.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxides, an 81% rise from earlier estimates. With that update, the project has gained further importance as Europe seeks to reduce reliance on the supply chains dominated by China.

Telemark project positioned as a supply resilience lever

The Fen deposit is located in Norway’s Telemark region. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the project could be pivotal for strengthening regional supply resilience, adding that expanding domestic and allied production of critical minerals is essential for long-term economic security.

Støre also framed the Fen field as significant for Telemark, Norway and supply security and competitiveness more broadly, tying the project directly to Europe’s broader industrial transition needs.

Government intervention reflects permitting and land-use pressure

Oslo’s move follows a request from local authorities and reflects concerns that land-use conflicts and competing national interests could delay the project. Across Europe, large-scale resource and infrastructure developments—including mining and renewable energy projects—have often faced resistance from environmental or agricultural stakeholders, complicating permitting timelines.

By centralising planning authority, Norway is seeking to streamline approvals and coordinate competing interests—an approach that signals a more interventionist stance toward critical mineral development.

NdPr content links Fen to key clean-tech demand

About 19% of the Fen resource consists of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), rare earth elements used to manufacture permanent magnets. Those magnets are described as essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, consumer electronics and defence systems—applications central to Europe’s electrification and decarbonisation agenda.

A potential domestic supply base, but timelines remain long

The project also highlights Europe’s current supply gap: Europe has no operating rare earth mines and relies heavily on imports, particularly from China. While Fen could represent a meaningful step toward building a domestic supply base, the path to production is expected to be lengthy.

Rare Earths Norway indicated that production could begin in late 2031. It expects output of about 800 tonnes of NdPr annually by 2032, which is described as equivalent to roughly 5% of European Union demand.

Strategic minerals versus local constraints

Overall, Norway’s decision points to a broader tension across Europe: accelerating critical mineral development while managing environmental and social concerns. Centralising planning authority suggests governments are increasingly willing to prioritise strategic resource projects even as opposition from local stakeholders continues to influence how quickly projects can move forward.