A sustainable new approach to magnesium production

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Njordur, an Iceland-based company founded in 2023, is developing Europe’s first sustainable primary magnesium production facility in decades. The project introduces an innovative extraction process that significantly reduces the environmental impacts associated with conventional methods, such as mining and coal-fired processing. Powered by Iceland’s renewable geothermal energy, this approach achieves near-zero emissions—just 0.0004 tCO₂ per tonne of magnesium—offering a stark contrast to the 10-40 tCO₂ per tonne emitted by traditional methods like Pidgeon and Dow-Hydro.

AFRY has been engaged from the start to support every stage of this ambitious venture, providing engineering expertise to help turn Njordur’s vision into reality.

"We’re excited to be driving innovation and sustainability in the magnesium industry, leveraging our expertise to deliver impactful solutions. Collaborating with Njordur on this pioneering project is a testament to what can be achieved through forward-thinking partnerships" says Mohammad Golmaei, Project Manager at AFRY.

Strategic importance for Europe

Currently, Europe relies on imported magnesium, with more than 90% of the global supply concentrated in China. Traditional methods of production are not only environmentally damaging but also leave the region vulnerable to supply chain uncertainties. Njordur’s facility, with its planned annual output of 50,000 metric tonnes, will represent approximately 5% of global primary magnesium production1 . This significant contribution not only strengthens Europe’s resource independence but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable magnesium production.

This project demonstrates how innovative engineering can transform industries while reducing environmental impact.