Greenland mineral policy – changes in procedures for exploitation licences

Bibliographic Data

ID22431818
AuthorsFlemming Getreuer Christiansen (Geoscience BC, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume16
Issue1
Pages101-120
Publication date2026-01-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Polar Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2154-896X • E-ISSN: 2154-8978
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/2154896x.2026.2628474
OpenAlexW7133698148
LanguageEN
References cited19

Minerals and energy have for many years been an important part of the political game in Greenland with a strong wish of becoming economically independent of Denmark. Although Greenland in some periods received significant income, later years have demonstrated a modest level of activities and low interest from investors. Since Greenland took over the mineral administration in 1998 and the full legislation in 2010, a total of 14 exploitation licences has been granted. Four small mines have been active in short periods of time. Several licences have been relinquished or revoked without the start of mining. This paper gives a historical overview of exploitation licences and describes well-established procedures with requested resource estimates, feasibility studies and public hearings about environmental and social impact assessments. Many of these requirements have been dropped after legal and administrative changes within the last few years. Exploitation licences now look like extended exploration, both in terms of areas and time frame. This has caused a lot of confusion in business, less transparency for society, uncertainty when hearings will take place, and how the concept of exploitation licences should be understood in the future. The author has worked with research, advice and promotion of Greenland petroleum and mineral resources since the mid-1980s, and always in close dialogue with authorities and industry. This background knowledge is used for discussing the inexplicable changes that seem to be the result of direct dialogue between a few licence holders and politicians without serious analysis.

Arctic · Legislation · Mineral · Mineral exploration · Mineral resource classification · Extraction and Separation Processes · Mining and Resource Management · Natural Resources and Economic Development

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