Norway is a major producer of more and more materials that have been included on the EU’s list of critical raw materials.
Not everyone living here is aware of Norway’s increasing presence on this list. The metal industry is Norway’s third largest export industry. But many people still do not know how important it is for Europe.
We are Europe’s largest producer of aluminium, silicon, nickel and the steel ingredient manganese. That is why Europe can now obtain materials needed for everything from solar cells to drones – without becoming dependent on either China or Russia.
Metals from Norway are important for maintaining Europe’s level of self-sufficiency and thus also crucial for our own and the EU’s defence capability. The framework conditions for Norwegian energy-intensive industry are therefore a security policy issue for both Europe and Norway.
Why Norway is important
Every three years, the EU carries out a review to identify critical raw materials. This determination is based on how important they are to the European economy and how dependent our part of the world is on imports from countries outside the EU.
Take silicon for example. This material is used in solar cells and batteries, among other things. China has increased production dramatically in recent years, so that the price has fallen. Many other countries have stopped production due to high electricity prices. Now Norway is almost the only country keeping the furnaces burning here in Europe.
Silicon is an important ingredient in all electronics. Norway cannot cover all of Europe’s needs alone, but we are an important supplier.
Aluminium is important both for Europe and for Norwegian villages. Aluminium producers are keystone businesses in places like Årdal municipality and the old industrial town of Mosjøen.
Russia is a major producer of aluminium. Now Europe is boycotting Russian aluminium. But Russia exports to China, which in turn exports aluminium to Europe.
China – importer turned exporter
Ten years ago, China imported many materials. Now the Chinese have increased their own production so much that they are exporting silicon and aluminium. They are starting to put quite a bit of pressure on European industry.
Manganese is used as an alloying element in steel. All types of steel contain around one percent manganese. That doesn’t sound like much. But it ends up being a lot, because steel production is gigantic.
If Norway did not produce these metals, Europe would be completely dependent on imports from China and Russia to meet its material needs.
Greener production practices in Norway
Environmental considerations are an additional argument for having metal production located in Norway. The way we produce metal is much more environmentally friendly than the methods used in China. Not only because we use hydropower, but also because we produce more efficiently in Norway.
Environmental requirements are strict. Norwegian industry is very clean on a global scale. At SINTEF, we lead a Norwegian research centre that aims to make the metal industry climate-neutral by 2050.
At the same time, technological development related to metal production is crucial for green transitions in the fields of energy, transport, IT and construction.
Self-sufficiency is the key
Increasing self-sufficiency is the key for Europe in our geopolitically uncertain age. How important it is to become independent of China is well illustrated by the US efforts in this area, which has gone so far that when the Americans are going to build aircraft, they check that not a single component comes from China.
The border violations and the drone incidents strongly underline just how important it is for Europe to become self-sufficient in precisely this metal. Europe, now more than ever, needs to strengthen its own defence industry.
For that, our part of the world needs its own steel, its own aluminium and its own electronics.
This Viewpoint was first published in Teknisk Ukeblad on 28.10.25.