Massive Mineral Deposit Discovered in Norway Could Satisfy Global Demand for Fertilizer, Solar Panels, EVs for 100 Years

An underground deposit of high-grade phosphate discovered in Norway is so big that it could provide enough of the critical material used to make fertilizer, solar panels, and electric vehicle batteries for the next 100 years, according to the mining company that made the discovery. 

Norge Mining, the Norwegian miner heading the project, has finished the exploration phase after discovering that the deposit is far more vast than originally thought. The deposit is estimated to contain 70 billion metric tons of phosphate rock, according to EURACTIV, an independent media company specializing in EU policy.

That is roughly the same as the proven global reserves of phosphate, which are estimated to be 71 billion metric tons, per the USGS. 

Norge made the initial discovery in 2018 when the deposit was estimated to extend 300 meters underground. Further exploration found that it actually ran 4,500 meters deep – further than it is even possible to drill.

Phosphate rock creates phosphorous, which is a critical component of fertilizer and for which there is no known substitute. Fertilizer, in turn, is what powers the global food supply and is highly sensitive to price shocks like what was seen in the early days of the war in Ukraine. More than 90% of the world’s phosphate rock is used in agriculture.

In addition, phosphate is used in the production of solar panels and next-generation lithium batteries, as it provides higher energy density, better safety, and longer life than lithium-ion versions. Phosphorus is also used in semiconductor manufacturing, though in smaller quantities, per EURACTIV.

The biggest phosphate rock deposits in the world are in Morocco (50 billion metric tons), followed by Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. While the U.S. has significant phosphate mines of its own, virtually none of the biggest producers of the raw material are in the West.

The Norwegian discovery changes that, and is especially critical as countries move to protect their own strategic mineral reserves from export, according to The Economist.

But before Norge can start actually mining the rock, it needs to complete a long permitting process as mandated by the EU.

While the Norwegian government has reportedly been “very supportive” of the project, per EURACTIV, the European Commission recently proposed classifying phosphate rock as a “critical” mineral, but not “strategic.” That could slow down the permitting process in Brussels, as "critical" discoveries are not subject to the same fast-track approvals that "strategic" ones are.

Norway is not an EU member state but is party to certain regulations via its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The phosphate rock deposit is also said to contain vanadium and titanium, raw materials used in defense and aerospace fields. “Two significant airplane manufacturers” have already expressed their interest in the titanium supply, per EURACTIV.