UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Europe’s largest rare earths deposit found in Sweden
18/1/2023
News
Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth oxides, over 1mn tonnes, has been discovered in the Kiruna area of northern Sweden by mining company LKAB. Although reportedly a fraction of the world’s 120mn reserves, the find is being hailed as important as it could help reduce Europe’s dependence on China for what is a key component in electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies such as wind turbines.
China supplied nearly 98% of European Union (EU) demand for rare earth elements, produced from rare earth oxides, in 2021, demand for which is expected to increase more than fivefold by 2030, according to the European Commission.
Commenting on the news, Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, said: ‘Electrification, the EU’s self-sufficiency and independence from Russia and China will begin in this mine. We need to strengthen industrial value chains in Europe and create real opportunities for the electrification of our societies. Politics must give the industry the conditions to switch to green and fossil-free production. Here, the Swedish mining industry has a lot to offer. The need for minerals to carry out the transition is great.’
However, based on current permitting processes, LKAB expects it will be at least 10–15 years before the Per Geijer deposit can be mined and raw materials delivered to market. Company CEO Jan Moström, notes: ‘The European Commission’s focus on this issue, to secure access to critical materials, and the Critical Raw Materials Act the Commission is now working on, is decisive. We must change the permit processes to ensure increased mining of this type of raw material in Europe. Access is today a crucial risk factor for both the competitiveness of European industry and the climate transition.’
