In the North of the Netherlands, 2000 meters underground, lie the remains of the Zechstein Sea. A primeval sea full of minerals and salts that dried up millions of years ago and became covered with layers of earth. This primordial sea is now a salt layer containing high-purity magnesium salt. Specifically under Veendam there is a magnesium salt mountain that is unique in the world.
No chemistry without salt
Chemistry in the Netherlands is based on salt. Without salt there is no chemistry. Magnesium salt extraction also gives the East Groningen region an economic boost, is the basis of chemistry in the Netherlands and strengthens the market position of the Netherlands and Europe.
Dutch magnesium salt is not always visible in the physical end product, but is an essential and crucial element in the manufacturing chain of p.e. military, environmental and health products.
A strategic mineral
The Dutch extraction of salts is also important for the Dutch and European market from a geopolitical point of view. Homegrown magnesium salt ensures that the Netherlands and Europe are not dependent on Russia or China, for example. In the context of the Critical Raw Material Act (CRMA), Europe and its member states are committed to securing strategic and critical raw materials. A critical raw material is of great strategic and economic importance. If we do not have this material, our economy is in danger of stagnating or even coming to a standstill. A strategic raw material is a material that helps Europe become more geopolitically independent for the production of strategic products, especially in the areas of renewable energy, digitalization, space and defense.
Critical Raw Material
One of the critical raw materials on the EU list is magnesium; the magnesium salt produced by Nedmag is a raw material that can be used for the manufacturing of magnesium metal and other key technologies, such as high-quality flame retardants and batteries. Due to the high purity, Nedmag is also one of the few producers in the world capable of making almost 99% pure Dead Burned Magnesia (DBM). DBM is essential for the production of refractory bricks for producing green cement and steel.
The availability of critical raw materials is of great importance for the European, national and regional industry, but has come under increasing pressure due to geopolitical tensions and international market dynamics. The CRMA (Critical Raw Materials Act) of the European Union plays an important role in this. What impact does the loss of these critical raw materials have on Europe, the Netherlands and on the companies depending on magnesium salt for their products and applications?
In summary
Dutch magnesium salt is therefore important for European strategic autonomy and can contribute to guaranteeing the supply chain for European companies.
We advocate security of supply and continuity of this important raw material within Europe, where safety for people and environment and compliance with legislation are paramount in our mining and processing activities.
Applications by sector
Nitrogen Reduction
Magnesium chloride is applied in agriculture to reduce nitrogen emissions. By spraying MgCl2 on stable floors ammonia emissions can be reduced by approximately 50% through binding nitrogen in the manure via crystallization (struvite formation).
Crop improvement
Magnesium hydroxide serves as a highly efficient anti-fungi in plant protection, applied through field spraying on a wide variety of crops, providing effective treatment against major fungal attacks.
Sustainable waste water treatment
Magnesium hydroxide is used in wastewater treatment for heavy metal precipitation, pH adjustment, and phosphorus removal, effectively enhancing the overall quality of treated water.
(Marine) flue gas treatment
Magnesium hydroxide is extensively used in industrial and marine flue gas treatment systems to neutralize acidic components, particularly sulfur oxides (SOx), in exhaust gases.
Safe Traffic / Safe Work
Calcium chloride is used as a road salt for de-icing effectively lowering the freezing point of water, providing superior melting performance compared to regular salt (sodium chloride) at lower temperatures.
Calcium chloride is a salt compound well-known for its ability to attract and retain moisture from the air. This characteristic makes it an ideal dust suppressant on both gravel and paved roads , as it effectively prevents breathable dust particles (PM 10) from becoming airborne by keeping surfaces wet.
Kitchen Salt Reduction
The use of magnesium salt in food processing as replacer of traditional kitchen salt (NaCl) enables improvement of the nutri-score of the product, while significantly lowering sodium content in products, contributing to healthier dietary options without compromising on taste or structure.
Protein Transition
Calcium chloride is applied as a nutrient-rich growth medium in the controlled cultivation of seaweed, where its calcium and magnesium-rich composition provides enhanced productivity, quality, and sustainability.
Computer chips
Magnesium chloride is an important raw material for the production of high quality flame retardants that can be used in the coating of for example ASML cables; because it helps them to stay stable and work well even when they get hot, which is essential for the high-tech machines used in making computer chips.
Energy Storage
Magnesium chloride could be critical for future batteries and energy storage by enabling the development of safer, more efficient magnesium-based batteries, which are cheaper and more abundant than lithium, offering higher energy density and faster charging times.
Electric Vehicle Cables
Magnesium hydroxide is commonly used as a flame retardant in various materials, including plastics, thermoplastics, and cables.
Magnesium metal
Magnesium chloride is essential in magnesium metal production as Mg can be produced from a melt of pure magnesium chloride (MgCl2) through electrolysis. Recently, through new technologies, process have been optimized enabling process improvements, especially in the field of energy consumption by operating at lower temperatures, enabling the use of renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy.
Magnesium alloys are in use in a variety of different applications. It is a preferred material when looking for weight reduction without compromising overall strength.
The most common applications are within the field of automotive, aerospace and electronics; such as aircraft and missile components, automotive wheels, housings, transmission cases, engine blocks, laptops, televisions, cell phones. But also bicycles and other sporting goods equipment or portable power tools or ladders.
Nickel & Cobalt
Caustic calcined magnesia is used in High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) for nickel and cobalt mining to help separate these metals from solutions, making it easier to collect them for battery production.
Green Steel & Cement
Dead burned magnesia serves as a refractory material that enhances durability and thermal resistance, helping to withstand the high temperatures required for lining green steel and green cement furnaces, while minimizing chemical reactions that could negatively affect steel and cement quality.