Greenland’s $3bn (£2.3bn) economy relies heavily on the public sector, fishing exports and sizable subsidies from Denmark, and so its leaders want to diversify. Tourism is rapidly growing, and the mining sector could play a “substantial” role in future, says Nathanielsen. But it’s a “slow business”, the minister cautions, adding, “I expect we will have three to five mines, I hope, within the next 10 years.”
The remote northern geography, mountainous terrain and cold climate makes mining challenging and costly. A lack of infrastructure, small workforce, as well as red tape and strict environmental regulations, are other factors.
Only nine companies now hold commercial mining permits, and there’s currently just two active mines.
Sitting above the Arctic circle, on Greenland’s west coast, Lumina Sustainable Materials exports anorthosite used for e-glass, cement and even as moon-dust for astronaut training. It’s processed and stockpiled in winter, as the fjord freezes, explains managing director Bent Olsvig Jensen. “We can only export our products seven months a year.”
Just getting crew in and out is a logistical challenge. “It can only happen by boat or helicopter,” he says. “When we get close to the winter, we need to get everything on site for the next six months,” Jensen adds, “right down to shampoo and toothpaste.”
