00:01This idyllic Norwegian farm could soon become a massive mining pit.
00:10If I can't farm this spot anymore, I'll quit.
00:17I'm very closely bonded to this place.
00:22I was born and raised here.
00:26Geyr Dubing's farm on Norway's southwestern coast may very well sit atop one of the world's largest phosphate deposits.
00:35His family has been living here for centuries, on land rich in this natural mineral.
00:43All these dark parts here are phosphate.
00:48The phosphate content of the rock here makes the area very fertile.
00:53The layers of soil are quite thin, but it's still always green here.
01:02The mountain right next to his farm may also disappear under the big slag heap surrounding a massive open pit mine.
01:10Geyr worries about the possible impacts on the environment and public health.
01:15Even while mining the rock, they have to grind it on the spot down to particles half a millimeter thick or finer.
01:25Windy days like today will carry off massive clouds of harmful dust.
01:36No to the mine and save the village are written on these walls.
01:45Resistance to the planned excavation is gaining ground.
01:48But the Norwegian-British mining company is not backing down.
01:53Phosphate is in high demand for agricultural fertilizers, solar cells and batteries for electric vehicles.
02:01And nowhere else on earth are those as popular as in Norway.
02:06In 2024, almost 90% of all new cars registered here were electric vehicles.
02:16This is the Phosphate Laden Rock.
02:20The mining company sees it as a future source of income when Norway's oil and natural gas wells dry up.
02:28This could be one of several industries that ensure development for Norwegian society in the future.
02:35The mining consortium and its investors are promising a glorious future for Norway's Rugelland County.
02:48The phosphate could potentially cover European demand for decades while reducing dependence on China.
02:54What we have here is the largest phosphate deposit of igneous origin that has ever been found.
03:11It's about 4.5 billion tons of rock.
03:16But experts say that's far too optimistic.
03:19Southwestern Norway has a long-standing mining tradition.
03:24Titanium is still mined in the region today.
03:27But a find that's sensational isn't expected this time around.
03:34In 2012, Norway's Geological Institute estimated the phosphate deposits could be worth about 20 billion euros.
03:43Some people must have thought they were talking about net income.
03:49But in fact, the figure refers to gross revenue.
03:54This figure doesn't include the costs of extracting and processing the mineral, which are considerable.
04:02So far, Norwegian authorities have only granted a prospecting license.
04:07Geir intends to do whatever it takes to stay on his farm and prevent the land from being mined.
04:19I'm fighting to make sure this land will be farmed for a long time to come.
04:26By future generations, too.
04:29For now, any digging in this ground will be for the planting of crops.
04:38For now, any digging in this ground will be for the planting of crops.
04:41Again, we're gonna try to cover a balancing of crops.
04:42For now, even donations.
04:43One all over, they're made to make roberts.
04:44For now, these are called a harvest set.
04:46They truly should will be phosphorus, produced by oxen, sold and steeland,
04:50ALUR ROGA H
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