Moe took up the position as CEO on 1 September. He joins Rare Earths Norway from Elkem ASA, where he served as Senior Vice President Technology (CTO) and member of the corporate management team, with responsibility for technology development, major industrial investment projects, climate initiatives and R&D. He has previously held senior positions at ABB and Equinor and brings around 30 years of experience from international process industries and technology development.

During his visit to Ulefoss, Moe met employees as well as representatives from the municipality, county authorities, local businesses, agriculture, the Fen residents’ association and the education sector. Among those he met were Nome Mayor Linda Therese Thorstensen, Municipal Chief Executive Rune Engehult, County Mayor Terje Riis-Johansen and Arne Grave, Principal of Nome Upper Secondary School.

– It is important to me to establish a good dialogue with the municipality and the local community from the outset. We will be working together for many years, and the development of the Fen project will require close cooperation between the company, public authorities and the local community, Moe says.

Rare Earths Norway is developing the Fen deposit in Nome, Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements. The company is working to advance the project towards commercial operations, with the potential to create significant industrial activity and new jobs in the region.

At the same time, REN is strengthening its local presence. The company’s resource mapping team is currently based at the former Fen school but will move during the autumn to larger premises just outside the centre of Ulefoss. The new facilities will provide capacity for additional staff and enable more logging and analytical work to be carried out locally.

Moe also highlights the forthcoming central government planning process as an important step in the further development of the project.

– Once the necessary zoning plan decisions are in place, we can proceed with more detailed planning of the industrial facilities, infrastructure and future operations. Our ambition is to develop a project that creates value locally and nationally, while contributing to Europe’s supply of critical raw materials, he says.