Written by Tyler Durden
Written by Nathan Worcester through The Epoch Times,
Taatsi Olsen knows what it takes to start searching for minerals in Greenland.
In a warehouse in the suburbs of the capital, Nuuk, he strolled through secret mining searches in a cold, sparsely populated country: the walls of tools and harnesses and tiny caravans transported by chopper to distant locations, essential in a place where no road from town to town leads.
Olsen pointed out that a unique model of settlement in Greenland – isolated fishing villages scattered over hundreds of miles of rocky islands and fjords – could have advantages for miners.
"If you are in the wilderness, there is simply a good chance that there is simply a tiny village nearby" – said in an interview with The Epoch Times.
Olsen is the operational manager of X-Ploration Services Greenland. A company that supports the exploration of minerals on the island could prosper if uncommon earth deposits in Denmark were a benefit.
However, he knows the chances of individual success. Olsen estimates that only 1 in a 1000 exploration projects in Greenland lead to a mine.
"It's just so hard to find something that makes economical sense" – He said.
President Donald Trump quoted Greenland uncommon earth metals, estimated for 1.5 million tonnes, as a crucial reason to include them in the United States.
Critical minerals are utilized in many advanced technologies, including mobile phones and defence systems. The manufacture is presently dominated by China.
For now, only 2 mines are in operation in Greenland and no of them mine uncommon earth metals.
However, mining is not fresh in Greenland. It is part of a long past that ties the world's largest island to Denmark and the United States.
Supporters of uncommon earth mining hope to aid in the fight for Greenland's independence. Many of them are looking for additional income sources in a territory dominated by seafood exports, government employment and an yearly block grant from Denmark.
"We must strengthen the economy" Svend Hardenberg, a Greenlandian active in efforts to make uncommon earth mining, said The Epoch Times.
Mining, past and future
Mining in Greenland has roots dating back to 1720, erstwhile Lutheran pastor Hans Egede arrived in Greenland in search of Vikings who disappeared after settling there over a 1000 years ago. The Danish-Norwegian pioneer founded a fresh colony on the island. A fewer decades later, she started extraction On a tiny scale.
The fishing village close Nuuk in Greenland, 4 May 2025. Nuuk, inhabited by about 20,000 people, is the capital of Greenland. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
One of the sites dating from the 1950s – the Kriolithic mine in Ivittuut – proved crucial in the 20th century.
Cryolite was essential for aluminium production, and Ivittuut was the only commercial source.
During planet War II, Ivittuut proved so crucial to the Allied war effort that the United States formed a naval base close to defend it. To this day, the United States maintains a military base in the far north of Pitufik.
The extraction of cryolite in Ivittuut disappeared with the appearance of synthetic cryolite and was yet closed in 1987. The base, then Danish, closed in 2012. The Chinese tried buy The abandoned installation in 2016, but it prevented them from doing so by the Danish government.
Australian company Eclipse Metals acquired since then, a licence to land that includes the erstwhile base and mine.
The promise of uncommon lands besides drew attention to the Tanbreez project, a deposit close the town of Narsaq in confederate Greenland.
In 2024 American officials Lobbied at the Australian company Tanbreez Mining to refuse approval from Chinese related companies who are trying to get it.
In March, a Critical metallic Corp. company, active in mining development, estimated the value of 1 percent of Tanbreez's parent stone at about $3 billion.
A company that owns ownership of the project, cooperation at the Tanbreez GreenMet project, an American company dealing with critical minerals, led by Drew Horn.
Horn told The Epoch Times that Tanbreez aroused interest from the private sector delegation he led. The group included directors of mining companies Critical Metals Corp, American Renewable Metals, Refracture and Cogency Power.
Horn besides started working with Hardenberg on a seaweed processing task that would match a state-run operation developed by Royal Greenland.
President Pakkutannguaq Larsen said that although she is simply a supporter of Greenland's independence, she is not keen on further mining industry.
(Mountain) Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, US Space Force Base located on the northwest coast of Greenland, 4 October 2023. (Lower L) The Pakkutanguaq Larsen Guide attaches a tourist boat in Nuuk, Greenland on 4 May 2025. Larsen said that although she is in favour of Greenland's independence, she is not willing to proceed the mining industry. (At the bottom of R) Taatsi Olsen of Xploration Services Greenland watches the upcoming plans in Nuuk, Greenland on 4 May 2025. The company supports the exploration of minerals on the island. Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images, John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
"We want to preserve nature as it is." said in an interview with The Epoch Times.
Olsen, whose company was not active in Tanbreez, said that Trump's attention to his country was fueling both excitement and uncertainty.
American companies are not yet in line to cooperate with X-Ploration Services, which specializes in logistics, planning and related areas.
"Most of our clients are Canadians" – added Olsen.
Nikoline Ziemer, a biologist active in the Royal Greenland seaweed project, said she hoped the government would not revoke the licence as it had been in the past.
"We must have a unchangeable policy on this matter, due to the fact that it harms Greenland's credibility as a mining opportunity" – She said.
In 2021, this country stripped the Chinese iron ore mining licence company. In the same year, the territory ceased to offer fresh oil exploration concessions.
Olsen said that he felt that the government, now under different direction, could change course on the second decision.
Nikoline Ziemer, a business improvement manager in Royal Greenland, is reviewing photos of seaweed samples in Nuuk, Greenland, on 5 May 2025 John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Dependent economy
Olsen, Hardenberg, Ziemer and Larsen are not protractors.
Almost all Greenlandese who spoke to the "The Epoch Times" saw on the horizon an effort of independency from Denmark – although after the March elections it is not known when. independency can besides aid the Greenlandese to establish closer ties with the United States if they so decide.
Hardenberg said that uncommon earth elements are 1 way to decision the territory towards greater autonomy.
Grounder agreed. Speaking on her behalf, not on behalf of Royal Greenland, she said that the dependence of this territory on fishing "is not a viable economical model".
Today, shrimp and fish account for more than 90 percent exports This territory. Over half budget The Greenland Government and one-fifth of Greenland's gross home product come from the Danish Government. Greenland besides receives an yearly block grant from Denmark, which amounts to about $500 million.
This block grant could absorb large gross from mining for local government. If Greenland generates revenue above 75 million Danish krona (about $11.3 million), half of these fees will be allocated to compensate for the grant.
The Greenland Government has a immense influence on the island. Public sector employment accounts for 42 percent of employment, compared with 28 percent in Denmark and 13.4 percent in the United States.
Hardenberg, who erstwhile served in the government, said that he thought Greenland would be more dynamic if "she freed more people from the public sector to more productive jobs."
Not all mining activities will translate into work for locals.
Olsen said that a tiny population of Greenland – little than 60,000 people – means that mining exploration must be based on any abroad talents.
"There are not many geologists and experts here" – He said.
He said that more jobs for Greenland's physical workers would be available if mining went from exploration to exploitation.
(Top) Fishermen traverse the Arctic waters close Nuuk, Greenland on 4 May 2025. Shrimps and fish account for more than 90 percent of Greenland's current exports. (Lower) Sailors leave Royal Greenland offices close Nuuk, Greenland 5 May 2025 John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
On Earth
In Nuuk, inhabited by about 20,000 people, the economical situation seemed ambiguous.
While any streets were lined with decaying residential blocks, others glistened with fresh buildings.
High above the city, the global airport will shortly operate Scandinavian Airlines and United Airlines flights, which will increase hopes for tourism.
In Government-funded Fight ClubWhere young boxers competed in front of a cheering crowd, Ethan Ingholt told The Epoch Times that he had come to Nuuk from Denmark.
W Denmark worked as an arborist. Now, in a country without trees, he's a construction manager.
"If you're ready to work, there's always work." He said.
Inunnguaq Korneliussen, a student participating in the event, told The Epoch Times that the economy "is now in order", but "gets angry". As an example, he cited rising food prices.
A fewer blocks distant Jens Smith was selling seafood on a stall. 1 of the popular products was tachy eggs, a delicacy akin to sturgeon caviar.
When Smith spoke, a man came in and rapidly bought 2 bags of eggs.
Smith told The Epoch Times that many customers resell his goods in Denmark, where Greenlandese seafood can scope advanced prices.
The couple walks through Nuuk streets in Greenland on May 3, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
He said winter was hard for anglers.
– The water is besides cold now," he said.
Larsen, a mining opponent, said she hoped to open her own tourist company. She said that tourism could aid Greenland go its own way, as Iceland did.
Iceland, country With less than 400,000 inhabitants, the erstwhile territory of Denmark, which became independent, attracted nearly 2.3 million tourists in 2024, according to the Icelandic Tourism Council.
Greenland, which is mostly based on cruise-based tourism, adopted 76,477 cruise passengers in 2023, which is simply a record-breaking number and 640 percent more cruise passengers than in 2019, the erstwhile best year.
Hardenberg said the last election revealed 1 common feature of Greenland: "Everybody agrees that we must make our own future. We must guide and control our own fate."
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.zerohedge.com/
