This week, the mineral industry and geologists gathered at the NGU seminar ExplOre NGU to exchange knowledge about Norway's rich geological resources.
Learn more: Great Confidence in Norway’s Ability to create world’s most sustainable mineral industry
The two-day program was packed with presentations from exploration companies, mining companies, and geoscientists who shared experiences, ambitions, and hard facts about Norway's geological opportunities.
"Compared to other Nordic countries, Norway has had a bit of a hiatus in the mineral industry over the past 40 - 50 years. This means fewer datasets are available, and the geophysical and geochemical coverage is less than in other Nordic countries," says Peter Dodds, Exploration Manager at the Australian company Kingsrose.
Kingsrose has obtained exploration rights in Northern Norway and is investigating the potential for nickel, copper, and cobalt - metals which are included in the EU's list of critical raw materials and necessary for a range of technologies and products.
"For us, this means we have to collect much of the broad geophysical and geochemical data ourselves. It probably sets us back a few years compared to working in other countries, but it is also an advantage because we get to be the first mover in these areas," says Dodds.
Norway's ambitious mineral initiative is only in its early stages. Now, the mineral potential mapped by NGU will be examined more closely and in more detail. This is the role of the exploration companies .
"Norway has all the necessary ingredients to become a major supplier of critical minerals and has an ambitious mining industry, but there is still much work to be done to encourage and make it easier for companies to explore," explains Dodds.
A new mineral act is expected this year and was a hot topic during seminar breaks. The proposed act facilitates value creation in the mineral industry through favorable framework conditions for exploration, development, extraction, and closure of mineral activities
NGU - a world-class institution
The national geological surveys play a key role for exploration companies and the mineral industry when targeting and assessing prospects. This is where the basic mapping of geology and potential prospects is carried out. Then, private actors in the exploration industry conduct their analyses and investigations to assess whether the projects are viable.
"Many, including us, have said during this meeting that NGU is a world-class institution. NGU has made it easy for us to establish ourselves in Norway, thanks to the help, the open access to data, the expertise at NGU, and the geologists who know the ground and the regions. This is especially important for smaller companies like ours. We can perform early due diligence and assess projects without spending too many resources on finding or buying old data," says Dodds, and continues:
"There are things the industry is very good at, but also areas where it needs help, and this is why national surveys are so important. We need themto answer scientific questions and understand the bigger geological picture," concludes Dodds.
Learn more: Geological Resources
Important Arena
This is the third year in a row that ExplORe NGU has been held. Next year, the two-day user seminar will become part of the new national conference, Fundament. However, this will not come at the expense of the established format for dialogue and exchange.
"It is important for us to meet the exploration companies, as they are key users of our data. Having a dialogue with them about the quality of our data and services is crucial so that we can improve. We also see this seminar as a valuable platform where companies can meet each other, share experiences, and keep each other updated on ongoing activities," says Kari Aslaksen Aasly, senior advisor at the Mineral Resources Section at NGU.
