Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO) officially opened

Achieving energy transition goals depends on technologies that utilise critical raw materials. Therefore, insight into the availability of these materials is essential to realise the transition to a sustainable economy.

Information sharing on critical raw materials

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has tasked TNO with establishing the Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO). The NMO will meet the objectives and requirements set by the National Raw Materials Strategy (NGS) and the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) regarding research and information sharing on critical raw materials.

The NMO, housed at the Geological Survey of the Netherlands (part of TNO), is a collaboration between the national government, companies, and research institutions in the Netherlands. The NMO collaborates with national observatories of other countries in Europe.

Supply security risk assessment

The NMO develops, monitors, and publishes relevant indicators for Dutch society, economy, and industry. This provides an overview of the potential impact of supply disruptions within chains, enabling specific risk analyses focused on the Netherlands.

Policymakers and companies can better respond to risks around the supply security of critical materials for the Netherlands and the EU. The NMO aims to contribute to a resilient and robust economy and society through these insights into material flows and supply chains.

The activities of the NMO include:

• Monitoring supply chains and material flows, and an associated signalling network;
• Inventorying the role of critical raw materials in the Dutch economy;
• Coordinating knowledge development on critical raw materials in their (national and global) geological, economic, industrial, and geopolitical context;
• Sharing knowledge about potential risks regarding the supply security of critical materials with government bodies and players in the value chain;
• Advising to strengthen the resilience and risk preparedness of the Dutch government and businesses.

Tirza van Daalen, Director of TNO Geological Survey of the Netherlands: 'The NMO brings together multiple areas of expertise, including geology, knowledge of supply chains and material flows, and knowledge of material circularity.

This makes the NMO a very diverse and challenging task that fits well with the knowledge and expertise of the GDN.'