The exploration of a phosphate deposit by a Norwegian miner is complete, and the miner claims that the deposit is big enough to supply all of the phosphorus needed for solar panels and batteries over the next one hundred years.
The site’s developer, Norge Mining, claims to have found up to 70 billion tonnes of the mineral.
Approximately 90% of the mined phosphate is used to make agricultural fertilizer. Lithium-ion phosphate batteries, employed in green technologies and batteries, are likewise made using phosphorus. The material is in great demand, but there are serious supply problems.
The US Geological Survey estimates that the world’s confirmed phosphate reserves exceed 71 billion tonnes, which is slightly more than the amount found in Norway.
The western Sahara region of Morocco had the largest known phosphate deposit before this one, estimated to be 50 billion tonnes. According to US Geological Survey estimates, China comes in second with 3.2 billion tonnes, followed by Egypt with 2.8 billion tonnes, and Algeria with 2.2 billion tonnes.
On the EU’s list of strategic raw minerals is phosphorus. The phosphate supply worries the bloc because it depends so heavily on imports.
According to a representative for the EU executive, “The discovery is indeed fantastic news, which would contribute to the objectives of the Commission’s proposal on the Critical Raw Material Act.”
Polluting refining methods
The process of purifying phosphorus uses a lot of carbon. According to Michael Wurmser, the founder of Norge Mining, “This is part of the reason why there is no longer production of this crucial raw material in Europe; there used to be some production in the Netherlands many years ago, but they stopped it because of the heavy pollution.”
According to Wurmser, Norge Mining will use carbon capture and storage to lower the amount of carbon dioxide released during the refining process.
“Europe is in an excellent position: we can use our advantage in cleantech innovation and skills development to turn the industry into a powerhouse of innovation and change and, in doing so, achieve the highest social and environmental standards,” declared Bernd Schäfer, managing director of the European Raw Materials Alliance, earlier this year.
Norge Mining discovered the original discovery in 2018 using data from the Norwegian Geological Survey. However, the company’s drilling effort has revealed that mineral reserves are significantly more profound than initially thought.
Vanadium and titanium, which the EU likewise categorizes as essential raw minerals, are also present in the deposit. The liquid batteries needed by power firms are made with vanadium.
The EU and the Norwegian Government must still permit Norge Mining. According to Norge Mining, Norwegian ministers have supported and given the project full attention.
