Greenland Grants 30-Year Mining Permit to Danish-French Consortium for Eco-Friendly Anorthosite Extraction

Greenland has granted a 30-year mining permit to Greenland Anorthosite Mining (GAM), a Danish-French consortium supported by the Jean Boulle Group and state investment funds from Greenland and Denmark, to extract anorthosite near Qeqertarsuatsiaat. Anorthosite, a white rock similar to that brought back by NASA's Apollo missions, contains aluminum, micro silica, and calcium, and has potential climate-friendly applications as a substitute for bauxite in aluminum production and as a less environmentally damaging input in the fibreglass industry. Greenland's Mineral Resources Minister Naaja Nathanielsen hopes the mine will be operational within five years and emphasized that the project aligns with national objectives of controlled and sustainable investment. Despite heightened U.S. geopolitical interest, including former President Donald Trump's proposal to purchase Greenland, this has not yet translated into direct American investment, whereas relationships and investment discussions with European partners are progressing. The project is expected to contribute significantly to local economic and social development while positioning Greenland as a notable player in sustainable mining. Additionally, the mining sector in Greenland, currently limited in scale, may benefit from rising global demand for sustainable materials if logistical and regulatory challenges are addressed.