France and Nordics cooperation on rare earths

France’s potential to foster Nordic cooperation in Europe’s value chain

France 2030 as the financial engine of industrial stability and sovereignty

The foundation of the French green mining revival is France 2030, a massive investment plan that has evolved into a €54 billion engine for re-industrialization and decarbonization. This commitment is also backed by a profound reform of the French Mining Code, which has extended exploration permits from 5 to 15 years to provide the long-term predictability that mining ventures require. Supported by the OFREMI (French Observatory of Mineral Resources) for market intelligence and a €2 billion Strategic Investment Fund managed by InfraVia, the French ecosystem provides the institutional security needed to de-risk cross-border ventures.

Innovation and Automation: The Intelligence of the Subsurface – a driver for France and Nordics cooperation on rare earths

The digitalization of mining operations is no longer a luxury but a core requirement for environmental and economic performance. Anchored in Pau, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Pôle Avenia, France’s only competitiveness cluster dedicated to the subsurface, acts as a collaborative catalyst linking geosciences with Mining 4.0 technologies. It can also serve as a bridge for France and Nordics cooperation on rare earths, engaging Nordic actors in joint testbeds, shared digital standards, and training programs. Through this ecosystem, French providers are deploying Artificial Intelligence and digital twins to optimize extraction paths and predict structural risks. The BRGM (French Geological Survey), in its 2024 annual report, highlights the rise of AI in geosciences as a transformative tool for mapping mineral deposits with surgical precision, thereby reducing the environmental footprint of early-stage exploration.

Sustainable Engineering: Water Management and Electrification

In the delicate ecosystems of the Nordics and Greenland, water management is a critical factor for the Social License to Operate. French expertise in hydrogeology, led by the BRGM, provides advanced closed-loop systems that recycle nearly all process water, preventing the discharge of pollutants into local aquifers (Source: BRGM – brgm.fr). This environmental mastery is complemented by France’s unique energy advantage: a power grid that is 95% decarbonized. By relocating energy-intensive processing to France, Nordic operators can leverage this low-carbon electricity to produce battery and magnet materials with the lowest possible Scope 2 emissions, a decisive competitive edge in the European automotive and wind sectors.

Revalorizing Resources: From Waste to Secondary Assets

The most significant shift in French mining philosophy is the transition from “waste” to “secondary resource.” As outlined in the Jacques Delors Institute policy paper by Thomas Voïta, circularity is the key to European resilience.France is a world leader in bioleaching, a sustainable process using bacteria to recover metals from low-grade ore and historical mine tailings. This “urban mining” expertise allows for the remediation of old sites while recovering valuable minerals like cobalt and tungsten without new invasive extraction. For Nordic partners, this French know-how offers a way to maximize the economic output of every ton of rock moved, aligning with the CRMA’s 25% recycling mandate.

French Industrial Excellence: Scaling the Rare Earth Processing Hub

The final hurdle in European sovereignty is the separation and refining of rare earth elements (REE). Traditionally a non-European monopoly, this gap is being closed on French soil. The Solvay plant in La Rochelle, Europe’s largest REE separation facility, began commercial NdPr deliveries in 2025 and is adding Dysprosium and Terbium (heavy REE) capabilities in 2026. Solvay targets meeting 30% of EU magnet demand by 2030, all while drastically reducing its water and carbon intensity. Simultaneously, in the Lacq basin, Carester is launching a €216 million recycling and refining hub set to be operational by the end of 2026. This facility will process both recycled magnets and mining concentrates, aiming to supply 15% of the global heavy REE demand.

Fostering international collaboration with the Nordics for a Greener Future

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Written by Paul AUZELOUX.