Dig Deep The Strategic Importance of the Norra Kärr Project in Europe's Supply Chain
We're joined by Kurt Budge, CEO of Leading Edge Materials are a European-focused company at the forefront of the energy transition, developing projects in critical raw materials that are essential to the future of clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced technologies.
In this episode, we’ll get an overview of Leading Edge Materials and discuss how today’s shifting geopolitical landscape creates unique opportunities for companies strategically positioned in the critical minerals space. We’ll also explore the broader outlook for rare earth elements and natural graphite, and where Leading Edge is focusing its efforts across its three core business areas.
Kurt shares why the Norra Kärr project in Sweden is considered so vital to Europe’s supply chain resilience, and we’ll look ahead at what’s next for the company as it helps build a more sustainable and secure materials future for the region.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian company focused on critical raw materials projects in Europe, including a graphite mine in Sweden and a heavy rare earth project called Norra Kärr, which is vital for Europe's supply chain resilience.
- The ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, have heightened the urgency for Europe to diversify its supply chains for critical raw materials
- Rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earths, are crucial for defence applications and the energy transition, making projects like Norra Kärr strategically important for Europe’s industrial and military capabilities.
- The permitting process for mining projects in Europe is often slow and complex, which has hindered the development of critical projects like Norra Kärr
BEST MOMENTS
"What we've seen in the rare earth space, specifically in geopolitics this year, is a trade conflict between the US and China... the drive for diversification is more important than ever to build... resilience on a single supplier of critical raw materials."
"Norra Kärr is the most advanced heavy rare earth project in Europe... it has this long history of other groups saying this is strategically important to Europe."
"If you want a mine to produce, you can't just turn a tap and stop the critical raw materials flow. We are talking probably a minimum of 10 years from discovery to a built mine that's producing."
"We need to take responsibility for putting these supply chains together... the Critical Raw Materials Act is great legislation, but we need to do more and we need to do it now."
GUEST RESOURCES
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-budge-b75287/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/leading-edge-materials-corp/
https://www.leadingedgematerials.com/
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Mail: rob@mining-international.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast
Web: http://www.mining-international.org
CONTACT METHOD
rob@mining-international.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
Podcast Description
Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/