Extractions

Fensfeltet: the situation

Fensfeltet in Telemark, Norway, is the site of a proposed mining project targeting Europe's largest known deposit of rare earth elements. In April 2026, the Norwegian state assumed planning responsibility for the area through a statlig reguleringsplan, moving the process into national decision-making structures.

The area around lake Bærevann, part of a protected watercourse, has been identified as a preferred location for processing facilities and waste deposits by the company Rare Earths Norway. In April 2026, Nome municipality voted to recommend Bærevann, a political decision that diverged from the municipal administration's recommendation, which had proposed keeping a broader set of alternative sites under consideration. The state regulatory planning process now underway has not yet made a final determination on the site.

Biodiversity surveys in the Bærevann area recorded 78 red-listed species, six of which are national responsibility species (species for which Norway bears particular global accountability), and 168 mapped habitat-type localities. The overall consequence of development was assessed as critically negative (kritisk negativ). These findings have prompted questions about whether the assessment of alternative sites has been adequate, particularly in relation to international environmental standards applicable to decisions affecting areas of high biodiversity value.

(Updated June 2026)

Selected media coverage (Norwegian only)

NRK: “Fensfeltet i Nome: WWF krev natur i retur” (16 June 2026)
NRK: “Tvinges til å ofre 80 sjeldne arter” (11 June 2026)
NRK: "Regjeringen i arbeid med videre planer for Fensfeltet" (April 2026)
NRK: "Anbefaler Nuke og Bærevann som arealer for gruvedrift på Fensfeltet" (March 2026)
NRK: "Knusende rapport om utbygging rundt Fensfeltet" (July 2025)
NRK: "Gigantfunnet av sjeldne metaller: Frykter gruvedrift og radioaktivt avfall" (June 2024)”