Norwegian government grants three-year permit for mine waste dumping in Førdefjorden
The climate and environment ministry approved a temporary three-year waste-dumping licence for Engebø Rutile and Garnet AS in Førdefjorden, while suspending earlier permits deemed invalid by the Supreme Court.
Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment has issued a three-year temporary permit allowing Engebø Rutile and Garnet AS to dump mine tailings into Førdefjorden, while formally suspending the earlier authorisations that the Supreme Court found unlawful. The Supreme Court’s June judgment held that the 2016 permits breached the EU Water Framework Directive, sending the matter back to the administration for a new assessment.
The ministry indicated that a longer-term licence will be considered, with a decision expected in early 2027. The original 2015 approval had been challenged by environmental NGOs, leading to the protracted legal battle. The government justified the activity by citing titanium’s strategic importance for defence and aerospace, a claim the court rejected as insufficient justification.
Why it matters
It determines whether a controversial mining waste dump will proceed in a sensitive fjord ecosystem.
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