Norway weighs clean environment vs. clean energy

DW (English)

A massive phosphate deposit recently discovered in Norway could reduce Europe's reliance on China. This mineral is essential for making solar panels and electric batteries. However, plans for its extraction have sparked controversy.

Transcript

00:01This idyllic Norwegian farm could soon become a massive mining pit.

00:10If I can't farm this spot anymore, I'll quit.

00:17I'm very closely bonded to this place.

00:22I was born and raised here.

00:26Geyr Dubing's farm on Norway's southwestern coast may very well sit atop one of the world's largest phosphate deposits.

00:35His family has been living here for centuries, on land rich in this natural mineral.

00:43All these dark parts here are phosphate.

00:48The phosphate content of the rock here makes the area very fertile.

00:53The layers of soil are quite thin, but it's still always green here.

01:02The mountain right next to his farm may also disappear under the big slag heap surrounding a massive open pit mine.

01:10Geyr worries about the possible impacts on the environment and public health.

01:15Even while mining the rock, they have to grind it on the spot down to particles half a millimeter thick or finer.

01:25Windy days like today will carry off massive clouds of harmful dust.

01:36No to the mine and save the village are written on these walls.

01:45Resistance to the planned excavation is gaining ground.

01:48But the Norwegian-British mining company is not backing down.

01:53Phosphate is in high demand for agricultural fertilizers, solar cells and batteries for electric vehicles.

02:01And nowhere else on earth are those as popular as in Norway.

02:06In 2024, almost 90% of all new cars registered here were electric vehicles.

02:16This is the Phosphate Laden Rock.

02:20The mining company sees it as a future source of income when Norway's oil and natural gas wells dry up.

02:28This could be one of several industries that ensure development for Norwegian society in the future.

02:35The mining consortium and its investors are promising a glorious future for Norway's Rugelland County.

02:48The phosphate could potentially cover European demand for decades while reducing dependence on China.

02:54What we have here is the largest phosphate deposit of igneous origin that has ever been found.

03:11It's about 4.5 billion tons of rock.

03:16But experts say that's far too optimistic.

03:19Southwestern Norway has a long-standing mining tradition.

03:24Titanium is still mined in the region today.

03:27But a find that's sensational isn't expected this time around.

03:34In 2012, Norway's Geological Institute estimated the phosphate deposits could be worth about 20 billion euros.

03:43Some people must have thought they were talking about net income.

03:49But in fact, the figure refers to gross revenue.

03:54This figure doesn't include the costs of extracting and processing the mineral, which are considerable.

04:02So far, Norwegian authorities have only granted a prospecting license.

04:07Geir intends to do whatever it takes to stay on his farm and prevent the land from being mined.

04:19I'm fighting to make sure this land will be farmed for a long time to come.

04:26By future generations, too.

04:29For now, any digging in this ground will be for the planting of crops.

04:38For now, any digging in this ground will be for the planting of crops.

04:41Again, we're gonna try to cover a balancing of crops.

04:42For now, even donations.

04:43One all over, they're made to make roberts.

04:44For now, these are called a harvest set.

04:46They truly should will be phosphorus, produced by oxen, sold and steeland,

04:50ALUR ROGA H

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