(cont'd from yesterday's post)
About 50 million tonnes of phosphorus are used globally per year. At this point, Europe gets almost all they need from other countries with whom they have some tension. Consistent supply of critical raw materials can always be weaponized.
Now Norge Mining has discovered what they think is the biggest reserve in the world, at least 70 billion tonnes, in Norway. Worry over potentially unreliable foreign sources of these elements is in the past. They expect this find could meet demand for 50-100 years.
The massive deposit also contains vanadium and titanium. Altogether, it affects the steel, battery and chip industries, as well as agricultural fertilizer.
Environmental permits will take some time, but the government gives this project a high priority.
from Economist
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