Norway modernises the Minerals Act and Embraces the CRMA
New Minerals Act – Norwegian Mineral Resources for the Future
Norway is rich in mineral resources. Among other things, the country hosts Europe’s largest identified deposit of magnetic rare earth elements. On March 28, the Norwegian government presented a proposal for a new Minerals Act. The bill aims to facilitate increased mineral activity in line with rising demand driven by the green transition. It is also a response to the growing strategic and geopolitical importance of minerals, as the new Minerals Act establishes a direct link between mineral activities and national security.
Licenses and Permits - Not a One-Stop Shop, but Streamlined and Coordinated
Developing a mineral project has traditionally been a task for the patient. One of the key aims of the proposed legislation is to reduce the time and resources required to reach the operational phase—and, ultimately, the long-awaited cash flow. The proposal introduces a duty for all relevant authorities to coordinate their processes. The goal is to minimize delays and administrative costs by ensuring that conflicting interests are identified and assessed in a coordinated rather than fragmented—or unnecessarily repetitive—manner.
Reduced Conflict Risk and Smarter Use of Resources
Under the proposed new Minerals Act, the Directorate of Mining will be responsible for granting exploration rights for state minerals (i.e., metals with a specific gravity of 5 grams/cm³ or higher), light metals, and industrial minerals. This marks a departure from the current system, under which landowners may grant exploration and extraction rights for light metals and industrial minerals, while the Directorate retains authority over state minerals. By centralizing the authority to grant exploration rights for a broader range of minerals, the government aims to reduce the risk of conflicting interests—and thereby lower overall project risk.
Never Again: Fosen Vind
In 2021, Norway’s Supreme Court ruled that two wind farms violated the indigenous rights of local reindeer herding districts. The permits for those projects were declared invalid. The case, known as Fosen Vind, drew significant attention both nationally and internationally. Although the Fosen issue has since been resolved, the proposed Minerals Act seeks to ensure that the mineral industry does not face a similar situation. One key provision is the extension of legal protections—previously limited to Finnmark County—to the entire traditional Sámi territory.
The Icing on the Cake – CRMA
The proposed Minerals Act is a major step forward—but perhaps the most important announcement on March 28 was the government’s clear commitment to work toward the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) into the EEA Agreement, and subsequently into Norwegian law. This is an important clarification, particularly in light of the upcoming parliamentary elections in autumn 2025. By formally stating this position, the government signals its long-term commitment to developing Norway’s rich mineral resources—thus reducing the risk that a future administration will reverse course on CRMA implementation.
